Timberwolves Commit Long Term to Another Big Man, Julius Randle

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Julius Randle - NBA Playoffs - Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Timberwolves offseason has gotten extremely this week. After losing out on the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, the attention of Tim Connelly immediately spun his complete focus to the NBA Draft, which took place on Wednesday and Thursday.

After the Wolves pulled two international 18-year-old big men out of the 2025 draft heap, Connelly turned his attention to Minnesota’s own crop of pending offseason departures, specifically Naz Reid (player option), Julius Randle (player option) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (UFA).

On Friday evening, Tim settled Reid’s uncertainty with a new 5 year, $125 million contract that has received rather widespread criticism nationally, as an overpay. Locally, it was pretty well-known that Naz Reid was going to be paid as a starter, in the neighborhood of $25-30 million per year.

Minnesota Timberwolves sign Julius Randle to contract extension

Still, I expect the news reported by Shams Charania (ESPN) early Sunday afternoon will likely wrap national pundits up in even more confusion. Not only is Naz Reid coming back, but so is Julius Randle… on a fresh 3-year, $100 million deal ($33.3 million/year) that includes a player option in its final season (2027-28).

Last season, his first in a Timberwolves uniform, Julius Randle averaged 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. He struggled a bit to find his fit during the first half of the season. Then, a midseason injury sidelined the 30-year-old former Kentucky Wildcat for all of February.

It was then, according to Randle, where he was able to observe his new team, from the outside-looking-in. That perspective allowed him to unlock his fit. From there, his numbers bumped up and the wins rolled in. Minnesota went into February (Randle’s month off) with a 27-21 record and questions all over the fit of its roster, especially Randle.

Julius Randle paid by Timberwolves after incredible finish to season

But after Julius’ return on March 3, he slid in like the perfect puzzle piece. And from that date on, the Timberwolves went 17-4 to finish the regular season, jumping a half-dozen teams to claim the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference playoff bracket, just outside of the play-in tournament.

In the playoffs, Randle was one of the most reliable Wolves on the floor during their first two series. He averaged 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists in Minnesota’s 10 combined postseason games against the Lakers and Warriors. Unfortunately, he too fell off vs OKC (17.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.0 APG).

Related: Rudy Gobert Finally Says No to International Play

After the Wolves failed to reel in Durant, local reports have pointed to running it back with mostly the same roster. This does not mean Julius Randle will be a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves for the next three seasons. In fact, don’t be shocked if he doesn’t last until the trade deadline.

Don’t worry, there is a method to Tim Connelly’s madness

Most likely, the Wolves will start the 2025-26 season with a roster very similar to last year’s. But if a move needs to be made before the playoff run, or next offseason (etc), we all know Tim Connelly won’t hesitate.

Sure, getting rid of Randle would now have to come via trade, but his status in Minnesota remains year-to-year, even month to month. The same thing can be said for everyone else on the Wolves’ roster, not named Anthony Edwards.

Thus, his new deal should not come as a huge surprise. But then again, Reid’s shouldn’t have either. We are getting the flurry of announcements now, because NBA free agency begins on July 1, so this weekend is the deadline for 2025-26 player options to be decided on.

After Randle’s new contract, local beat reporters have confirmed that Nickeil Alexander-Walker will be the odd-Wolf out. With the Reid + Randle extensions hitting the books, there is no room remaining under the second apron for a player as valuable as NAW.

What this does move does is give both the Timberwolves and Julius Randle more control of over their future. With Reid, Randle, Gobert, Ant and Jaden under long term contracts, this organization is stacked with talent of all ages that other teams would happily pay for, if Tim Connelly needs to move someone.

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