To that point, the 2020 No. 1 pick the most recent player to have been compared to Michael Jordan<\/a>. This is an idea that he’s openly rejected<\/a> in a display of reverence for the hoops icon. Nonetheless, he’s clearly an elite young wing on a Hall of Fame trajectory. By the time he turned 24, he was a three-time All-Star and had led his team to the Western Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons.<\/p>\n When Edwards entered the league, he was a hyper-athletic and ultra-energetic ball of clay. Thanks to an accelerated learning curve, he’s rapidly become a sharper decision-maker and a better jump shooter. However, he needs to be a more willing facilitator. To be fair, there’s a delicate balance between leading a team’s scoring effort and being the best playmaker. Yet, the biggest obstacle for Edwards in the effort to find that balance will be his maturity.<\/p>\n As the best player, he’ll have the ball in his hands the most. He’ll also have the most gravity — the most eyes following him around the court. This gives him the most decision-making responsibility. The more seriously he takes that responsibility, the better he and the Timberwolves offense will be.<\/p>\n Julius Randle<\/a>‘s fit within the team’s offense is suboptimal. Neither he nor defensive specialists Jaden McDaniels<\/a> and Rudy Gobert<\/a> are consistent floor-spacers. As a result, the Timberwolves opponents will feel more comfortable pinching the lane or bringing additional pressure, compromising their scoring effort. Yet, when Randle focused on playmaking, it was easier for Minnesota to work around this conundrum.<\/p>\n There was no better evidence of this than when he returned from an injury<\/a> that kept him out for all of February. During his observations from the bench<\/a>, he determined that the Timberwolves needed him to lean into his passing. That decision allowed Minnesota to climb back up the Western Conference standings, as they went 17-4 following his return. Then they charged through the first two rounds of the 2025 Western Conference Playoffs, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors in gentleman’s sweeps.<\/p>\n In 2025-26, the Timberwolves formula for success could change because every season is different. However, until it’s proven wrong, there’s no reason for them to veer away from what’s been proven to work.<\/p>\n When Minnesota traded for Randle, one reason they were willing to make the move<\/a> was the New York Knicks’ decision to offer Donte DiVincenzo<\/a>. Unexpectedly, DiVincenzo’s debut season with the Timberwolves was interrupted by a big toe injury that’s still bothering him<\/a>. As a result, he played fewer than 65 games for just the second time in six seasons.<\/p>\n This would’ve likely been problematic regardless. However, the combo guard’s absence also coincided with starting point guard Mike Conley<\/a>‘s decline. To that point, at 37 years old, Conley is no longer the player he used to be at either end.<\/p>\n Due in no small part to DiVincenzo’s health and Conley’s age, Minnesota’s fans began clamoring for 2024 No. 8 pick Rob Dillingham<\/a> to play more. Yet, the Kentucky product only played 10+ minutes in 21 games as a rookie. After the 2024-25 All-Star Break, he played just 3.8 minutes per game.<\/p>\n![\"Apr](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26031884_168402037_lowres-300x200.jpg\")
Will Julius Randle Stay On Track?<\/h3>\n
Changing Of The Guard?<\/h3>\n