The Minnesota Timberwolves have quite a bit of room to adjust and improve as a squad.
After a Christmas Day victory over the Dallas Mavericks, the Minnesota Timberwolves are above .500 on the season again with a 15-14 record.
For the Timberwolves, trading Karl-Anthony Towns seems to be quite a questionable decision. He’s thriving with the New York Knicks, and the Timberwolves are struggling to pull their new-look roster together consistently.
Still, Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle are highly talented players and might need some time to figure out how to work together within the roster.
Many Timberwolves fans are quick to blame Randle for the offensive and spacing issues, but that’s not really all that fair. After five years with the Knicks in the same role, he’s having to adjust to playing with Edwards and an entirely new roster in a new system.
After the Christmas Day victory, Randle talked about the struggles of being traded to Minnesota and adjusting to a new situation.
“You’re somewhere for five years, playing a certain way and I come here and it’s a little bit different,” Randle said.
“I love my role here. I love playing with my teammates, but finding what helps the team and what the team needs the most on a night to night basis has been the harder part, but everybody has been great with me, coaches included, helping me adjust and figuring things out.”
Randle scored 23 points while shooting 6-of-13 from the field, knocking down three 3-pointers and even adding eight free throws made. He was efficient in scoring the ball for the team, while adding ten rebounds and eight assists.
The former Knick was incredibly productive while Edwards scored 26 points to lead the team. The effort for Randle to be what the team needs is evident, and he can be what helps turn the tide on their season.
It’s clear Randle is trying. He’s making an effort to fit into the Timberwolves’ squad, rather than the management making moves to try and elevate him and Edwards as a duo. They are also the ones who brought him into the situation as they traded Towns to save money, assuming Randle would provide a similar impact.
In no regard is Randle a bad player, and the fact that anyone is suggesting that proves they don’t understand where the problem is rooted. Randle’s comments about the “harder part” of blending into the team and playing the role needed proves that it’s going to take time no matter what, but it’s hard to pin the issues on him.
It’ll be intriguing to see what level of comfort the Timberwolves can build as time rolls on. Donte DiVincenzo is playing more efficiently and providing more of an impact. Chris Finch can make tweaks to help Randle, not relying on him alone to make adjustments.
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