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Wolves PF exposed as flop co-star for Anthony Edwards after Spurs blowout originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The San Antonio Spurs eliminated the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2 in the Western Conference Semifinals, capping the series with a convincing 139-109 Game 6 victory. Victor Wembanyama, an MVP finalist alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, made sure Minnesota had no answer late in games.
However, with the Timberwolves' exit early, the blame is landing squarely on Julius Randle, who flopped as Anthony Edwards' co-star.
Anthony Edwards overachieved but Julius Randle didn't hold up
Edwards reached two Conference Finals before turning 25 with the Wolves roster that, on paper, was never built to contend at that level. Polymarket Hoops noted that he’s overachieved with this group, but now it’s time to pair him up with a real second option.
Randle was supposed to be that second star. Instead, he finished the Spurs series averaging just 12.8 points on 34.2% shooting from the field and 19.0% from three-point range.
While his overall postseason numbers over 11 games look passable, his performance declined sharply as this series progressed. After opening with 21 points and 10 rebounds in Game 1, Randle shot 3-of-12 in a Game 3 loss, followed by a 12-point performance in Game 4.
He capped the series by scoring just 3 points on 1-of-8 shooting in the Game 6 elimination blowout. When Minnesota needed its second-highest-paid player to deliver, he flopped miserably.
Fans share the same sentiment that Randle is not the co-star the Wolves wanted next to Ant.
One user wrote, "Julius Randle is the worst No. 2 on any playoff team by far. He's truly useless."
Another added, "Wolves gotta revamp they team... Randle, Rudy, Naz all might be on the move, they also need another true co-star with Ant!"
A third one claimed, "He had a legitimate second option. These dummies traded him to New York for Julius Randle."
The fourth fan penned, "The wolves are reliant on Edwards with one leg and a truly terrible version of Randle."
Edwards was too banged up to carry Minnesota past its roster limitations. Here, his supporting cast failed to deliver. And there, Karl-Anthony Towns, sent to New York Knicks in the trade for Randle, is flourishing in the playoffs.
KAT has paced the Knicks' offense by averaging 17.4 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists through 10 postseason games. He helped New York sweep the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round.
Randle, 31, has two years remaining on his contract. Managing his $33.3 million annual salary alongside his diminished playoff production remains the Timberwolves' most critical offseason hurdle.
More NBA news:
- Was Game 6 Stephon Castle’s best performance ever? Mitch Johnson finally speaks out
- Why Victor Wembanyama believes Spurs' "inexperience" will help them achieve this "impossible"
- Luka Doncic couldn’t hide his anger over this one thing after crushing elimination loss
- Insane trade idea swirls around Kevin Durant and multiple first-round picks
- You need to see this photo of Victor Wembanyama's scratched up arm
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