Minnesota Timberwolves DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle will head back to the Western Conference as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster deal that included Karl-Anthony Towns. As reported by Shams Charania, the three-time All-Star has been traded along with Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for star big man Karl-Anthony Towns. Randle missed most of last season with a shoulder injury and the Knicks went on to have an explosive playoff run that ended ultimately due to more injury issues. It seemed like Randle was primed to play some more minutes at center since Mitchell Robinson (foot) would still be on the mend, but instead, he'll now play alongside Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards. In 46 games last year, Randle averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game with shooting splits of .472/.311/.781.

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle expects "to be ready to play by or near the start of the season." The multi-time All-Star injured his ankle in January. He initially opted for rehab instead of surgery, hoping to join the Knicks for the postseason. Unfortunately, rehab wasn't successful, resulting in Randle going under the knife in April. From a production standpoint, the 24-year-old had one of the best seasons of his career in 2023-24, averaging 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 46 games. Without question, he is one of the most underrated players in the National Basketball Association. However, the Knicks' roster looks drastically different from when Randle was on the floor last, so it's hard to predict how the new additions might impact his fantasy contributions. Still, as long as he stays healthy, he should remain a reliable fantasy asset.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (finger) is coming off a season where he won another Defensive Player of the Year award. He also was a member of France during the 2024 Summer Olympics, helping the team capture a silver medal. However, Gobert was limited near the end of the Olympics due to a finger injury. But president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said during an interview that the veteran big man is "good." Connelly also was asked about an extension for Gobert, with the executive stating he'd like to keep him in Minnesota "for a long time." The 32-year-old averaged 14.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks during the 2023-24 campaign. He also missed only six games. While Gobert has been in the National Basketball Association for over a decade, fantasy managers should continue to view him as a routine starter this season, assuming the finger injury doesn't keep him off the floor.

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (shoulder) recently stated he'd "love" to remain with the team. The 29-year-old had shoulder surgery in April but hasn't resumed on-court activities. He's also eligible for a contract extension in August, although there are many who believe he could be traded, something the front office has denied. Without question, Randle has been a quality fantasy asset over the years, and he finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 24 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in 46 appearances. He should remain productive no matter where end ends up when the season begins in October. Randle could even benefit if given a more prominent role in another offense.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards put his best foot forward in Game 5 against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, but it wasn't enough as they suffered a blowout loss. The young star registered 28 points on 10-for-18 shooting with nine rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block, and one turnover. Edwards not only cashed in on the best season of his young career, but he proved to everyone that he could elevate his level of play in the postseason at the age of just 22. This year, he averaged 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.4 threes, and 3.1 turnovers per game. He'll likely be a top-ten fantasy option heading into next season.