If you were still wondering how Julius Randle would fit into a contender’s puzzle, the 2024–25 season gave you the answer loud and clear. Randle didn’t just adapt in Minnesota—he thrived. Sliding in as the Timberwolves’ clear No. 2 behind Anthony Edwards, he became a reliable scoring weapon and an underrated playmaker. And when the lights got brighter in the playoffs, he delivered: at least 22 points in 11 of 15 games, plus a rare triple-double (24 points, 10 boards, 12 assists) in Game 3 of the West semis against the Warriors. This wasn’t a role player stepping up—it was a star proving his worth.
That playoff run also exposed Minnesota’s biggest weakness—and they wasted no time addressing it. After getting bounced 4–1 by the Thunder in the West Finals and struggling defensively, the Wolves went into the 2025 Draft with a clear mission: add toughness and depth up front. They walked away with 18-year-old French big Joan Beringer at No. 17 and Australia’s Rocco Zikarsky at 45. Both are raw, low-usage centers, but they bring size and grit—exactly what this team needed. With Rudy Gobert aging and Naz Reid locked in on a $125 million deal, the Wolves are clearly thinking long-term with their frontcourt.
And at the center of that frontcourt investment? Julius Randle—who just got paid. After news of his deal broke, his wife Kendra Randle posted a heartwarming Instagram Story of their kids with the caption: “congrats daddy.” That $100 million contract will do it. Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Randle is staying in Minnesota on a new three-year deal that includes a player option in Year 3. It’s a shift from his previous contract, which had a $30.9 million player option for 2025–26. Now, with a slight raise and a long-term home, Randle’s future is set with a team that clearly values what he brings.
His first season in Minnesota was proof of that value. Traded just before the season started in the blockbuster deal that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks, Randle took some time to gel with Edwards and Gobert. But once he did? He was a problem. Randle averaged 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists on 48.5% shooting. After battling a groin injury in January, he returned in March looking better than ever—nearly 21 points, 8 boards, and 6 assists per 36 minutes, while shooting 59% on twos, 40% from three, and 79% from the line. In the playoffs, he took it up another notch, averaging 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists on .620 true shooting in back-to-back five-game wins over the Lakers and Warriors. That’s how you erase playoff doubts.
So yes—Minnesota is betting big on Randle. With two bigs now making over $100 million—Randle and Gobert, and plus the two new rookie centers, the Timberwolves are building around size, power, and versatility. But it’s more than just spending. As Mike Conley put it, “His physicality, his demeanor, the way he can control pace, control the game on both ends of the floor—it kind of gives us some control.” For a team that’s been knocking on the door in the West, that kind of control might just be the final piece they’ve been searching for.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is likely heading out of Minnesota?
Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s time in Minnesota seems to be coming to a quiet close—and the writing’s been on the wall for a while. His wife may not have posted an Instagram goodbye, but the message is clear: the Wolves just can’t afford to keep him. After re-signing Naz Reid to a five-year, $125 million deal and inking Julius Randle for three years and $100 million, Minnesota’s books are just too tight. As The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski put it bluntly on X: “This deal does mean that NAW will be headed elsewhere. Wolves have people behind him ready for a shot and they’re going to get it.”
And so, NAW hits unrestricted free agency as one of the most intriguing 3-and-D wings available. He’s only 27, coming off a season where he averaged 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists on 43.8% from the field, 38.1% from deep, and 78% from the line. Those aren’t jaw-dropping numbers, but they point to a player who does a bit of everything—spot-up shooting, on-ball defense, secondary playmaking, and versatility. That’s why teams like the Pistons, Hawks, Magic, and Clippers are circling.
Right now, Detroit and Atlanta seem to be the frontrunners. Jake Fischer reported that “Detroit and Atlanta have emerged as the two strongest contenders for NAW,” while also naming the Clippers and Magic as serious possibilities. Each team has its own case: Detroit might lose Dennis Schröder and could use NAW’s on-ball defense; Atlanta needs more shooting and defensive help next to Trae Young; the Magic desperately need shooters after finishing last in made threes last season; and the Clippers could use his shooting next to James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. The full mid-level exception—just over $14 million per year—could be on the table. And if that happens, the Wolves simply can’t match it. NAW has options now—and Minnesota’s loss might be one of these teams’ biggest gains.70
With Julius Randle locked in as a long-term piece for Minnesota, Nickeil Alexander-Walker appears to be the odd man out. As one door closes, another opens—and NAW’s next chapter may be just beginning elsewhere.
