Julius Randle was acquired by the Timberwolves in the 2024 summer as part of the Kar-Anthony Towns trade, but there is no assurance that the former Knicks forward will stay in Minnesota for the long run.
Randle might choose to test free agency in 2025 by opting out of his contract, which includes a $30.9 million player option for the 2025–2026 season. In order to prevent losing the three-time All-Star for nothing, Minnesota might deal him in advance. In light of this, Fran Leiva of Fadeaway World suggested a deal that would send Randle to the Warriors in return for a big harvest of assets.
The Timberwolves would acquire Trayce Jackson-Davis, Andrew Wiggins, First-round picks in 2026 and 2028: Should the Warriors trade for Randle?
The author makes the case that Randle’s ability to pass to teammates and drive the pace could help the Warriors create a new death lineup. During his five seasons in New York, the Kentucky graduate averaged 4.7 assists and made significant progress as a defender under Tom Thibodeau. Randle was frequently utilized by Thibodeau as a small-ball five, a position he could be able to fill at Golden State.
On October 17, Leiva wrote, “Randle’s fit, though unusual, could be reminiscent of the small-ball units that took the Warriors to championships in the past.” Like [Draymond] Green, he can drive the ball in transition and collect rebounds, which would help Golden State keep up their fast-paced play. Despite his lackluster shooting efficiency, Randle’s eagerness to take threes would make teams respect his range, giving Curry and others more space.
The Season May Be Determined by the First Half
The Warriors are under tremendous pressure going into the 2024–25 season since Stephen Curry will turn 37 in March 2025. One of the best guards in history and possibly the best player in franchise history is in his declining years, and they cannot afford to waste his time.
As a result, a number of pundits have pushed the Warriors to put Curry’s prime ahead of the growth of the team’s youthful core, which consists of Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Jonatha Kuminga. The Warriors front office may have to make some tough decisions by the February 6 NBA trade deadline, which is their final opportunity to bolster the squad before the 2025 playoffs, if the quartet of players does not make a big improvement in the 2024–25 campaign.
Given that the fourth-year forward was due for an extension going into the 2024–25 campaign but had not been granted one, Kuminga’s situation is especially complex. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Warriors’ chances of dealing Kuminga would skyrocket if they allowed the extension deadline to pass.
Jonathan Kuminga is an important player to keep an eye on. On the August 30 edition of ESPN’s “First Take,” Windhorst stated, “He is currently in the midst of contract extension negotiations.” It is less likely that they will trade him if they sign him to an extension. However, he has a good chance of being traded during the season if we pass the October extension deadline and they are unable to find a deal there.
According to multiple sources, the Warriors declined to deal for the second-year guard, Podziemski, in exchange for Lauri Markkanen.
It will be a major victory for the Warriors if they can keep both Kuminga and Podz while still acquiring Randle.
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