It’s Time To Give Timberwolves Trade Addition His Flowers

Making more plays for others.

After returning from his injury on March 2, Randle averaged 5.2 assists per game. To be fair, in the 48 previous games, Randle averaged 4.5 assists per game. However, Randle recorded five or more assists in 12 of the 21 games (57.1 percent) he played post-injury. For comparison, he recorded five or more assists in 19 of the previous 48 games (39.6 percent).

Thus, while the mean difference doesn’t seem significant, the frequency difference highlights Randle’s in-season revolution.

In fact, after Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals, Wolves head coach Chris Finch told reporters: “It’s really what’s turned our season around — his playmaking, his decision-making, playing through on different spots of the floor. He gives us almost another point guard out there… It’s been everything for our turnaround. It’s everything for our team.” (h/t ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin)

Of note, the Timberwolves were 17-4 after Randle returned from injury.

Disproving The Doubters

Throughout the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Randle has remained one of Minnesota’s most valuable players. In large part due to his performance, the Timberwolves ripped through the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, winning the series 4-1. They’re now up 2-1 against the Golden State Warriors in the semifinals.

In those eight games, Randle has averaged 22.4 points, 6.4 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per contest. He’s the only player outside of Anthony Edwards averaging 20-plus points per game. However, he’s shooting 47.7 percent from the field, whereas Edwards is shooting 42.9 percent from the field.

Furthermore, he’s now the first player in franchise history with multiple 20-point, 10-assist games in a single postseason (h/t ESPN Research). He and Hall of Fame forward-center Kevin Garnett are the only Timberwolves players to record a triple-double in the playoffs. Suffice it to say, a lot of people are starting to change their tune about the Dallas native.

Those who believed the trade would work out for Minnesota feel vindicated.

Meanwhile, Randle’s just taking it all in stride.

“I feel like I just got a lot of different tools, you know what I mean?” he says. “It’s really about using my mind and taking what the defense gives me.”

“Finding everybody on cuts. Finding the open guy time after time. Pushing the pace… He’s making the game a lot easier for me, so I appreciate having him here,” Edwards says.

“They put the big dude on him, he’s too slow. They put the little guy on him, he’s too strong,” Jaden McDaniels adds.