The Julius Randle PROBLEM in Minnesota; should the Timberwolves BENCH the 3x Allstar for Naz Reid?!
Sam & Dave discuss the early season struggles so far from Julius Randle & the Minnesota Timberwolves & whether they should consider a starting lineup change that swaps the 3x Allstar for Naz Reid.
Visit our partners over at PRIZEPICKS to go support the show! Download the app today and use code GAMETHEORY to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup! Use the code GAMETHEORY or visit this link to sign up: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/GAMETHEORY
Follow Sam:
Twitter – https://twitter.com/sam_vecenie
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sam_vecenie/
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sam_vecenie
Follow Game Theory:
TWITTER – https://x.com/GameTheorySamV
INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/GameTheorySamV
TIKTOK -https://www.tiktok.com/GameTheorySamV
THREADS – https://www.threads.net/@gametheorysamv
BLUESKY – https://bsky.app/profile/gametheorysamv.bsky.social
Listen on Audio
Apple- https://bit.ly/3SpkHFJ
Spotify- https://bit.ly/3OvPvU2
Sam Vecenie, a Senior NBA Writer at The Athletic, talks all about basketball. From the NBA, to the NBA Draft, to college hoops and even some high school, Vecenie has you covered in this show.
33 Comments
Im a warrior fan but Jordan Poole would be so fun with Edwards. I know contract stuff but he definitely brings shooting lol.
As a Knicks fan I want to say thank you 😊
You super star isn’t staring, your point guard sucks, and your center can only dunk the ball. Yep Randle is the problem 🤦♂️
Randle cooked KAT every time we played the Twolves. KAT is a better player now than he was out there and is no longer SOFT. Randle is digressing now and so is DVo also. Seems to me the problem is ya COACH. This trade should have worked for both teams.
Randle plays best when he has a point guard that can get everyone going and prioritize the who what when and where. If he doesn’t have that he’s straight iso bully ball and he’s good at it but unfortunately it doesn’t always translate to winning
3:27 how is OG making it an art? He barely has the ball. Most of his shots are catch and shoot. He actually usually turns grenades into 3 points
It’s Randle who don’t do shit beside try to take over, coach is prolly losing his vision cuz Wtf is up with subs and Rob ain’t playing for what?
try and trade Zion for Randle yea hes hurt but they are familiar with Randle
That’s the same thing I been saying, Randle thinks he the top dog on this team, as a result Edwards have relinquish his command of the offense. I blame Finch for this because he just love Randle, because they had some kind of connection in the pass. He actually praises Randle after games even when Edwards scores the most points. If you have a pack of dogs and and alpha and you put another alpha in the pack with a dominant personality, either the original alpha will cower of fight, Ant to young and not wise enough to see what’s happening. My take is if they don’t get rid of Randle quick Edwards will start to feel un wanted and unappreciated by the coach, which it’s already started. Finch needs to nip this in the bud, this team is ruin by Randle and don’t even get me started on Devincenzo worst shooter ever!
The timber wolves aren't as good as they was when they had kat randle didn't fit in with the twolves they took a step backwards instead of a step forward randle not a good defender he doesn't play defense and connolly elderly is ketching up hes getting old
As a Knicks fan I totally feel your pain. I wanted Randall off my team for five years and it finally happened. I’m sorry but he your problem now.
hahahahahahahahaha losers!!!!!!
They can’t send two players out for one per apron rules.
remember when Sam said the Knicks lost this trade? lmao
KAT-astrophic
We have all been saying Tandle is a cancer.
Aren’t these 2 clowns said before the start of the season the Wolves won the trade? Maybe I am wrong I might delete this later.
That 2nd apron is a nightmare. You can only send 1 guy out in a trade AND have to take less money back. Wolves really screwed themselves. Keep those two points in mind when you start talking about trades. Cannot aggregate Randle with anyone else in a trade.
I think conley inability to hit three make spacing worse
As a Knicks fan Randle is definitely the 2nd best player on the team. There's really not a lot going on besides Ant, Julius, and Reid. In theory if Randle is the #2 then you can't have him shooting 14 shots a game. Randle is a diva. He only gives you effort when you prioritize him. You need Any putting closer to 30 a game and Randle doing his 25 and 10. There are whole quarters and halves where Ant just disappears. Offensively the rest of the team is pretty trash. So I would sink or swim with them.
Randle is THE issue, he seems to single handedly have killed the team chemistry. I also fully believe him and ant don't get along
No handle Randle lol
I am a Rndle fan but yeah it seems like Thibs was able to get the most out of him.
It’s funny as a Knicks fan not to beat a dead horse but the issue is Randle. His play style is draining. Playing with a guy that only cares about his shot and plays no defense while he makes stupid turnovers and passes only when he has to. The comments coming out the locker room the team vibes all of it is Randle. Wolves mad a beyond detrimental miscalculation letting KAT go. He and Edwards were a deadly duo and should’ve been together for the rest of their career. People don’t understand how good a teammate Kat is and what he helped Ant do. Randle is a streaky shooter but teams that are smart will just allow him that space and clog the paint. When you have a non spacing pf and center the paint doesn’t exist. Brunson had to do this with Randle and Mitchell Robinson!!! Randle was a cancer to the Knicks as a player teammate and his play style leaves you sick if you really watch basketball. Praise god everyday he is off the Knicks
Minn has so many issues and Randle is just one of them. They in cap hell with a washed PG and gave up a massive haul for a niche center. Spacing is bad with Randle Gobert and McDaniels. Team construction is just clunky
Pinning this all on randle is just plain wrong. This team goes when rudy plays well. This notion that a team is happy giving up 30 to randle is a major exaggeration. Randles defense is an abomination but its also team wide.
Relax. They just need time to gel. When Goebert joined the team in his first year, everyone was complaining about the fit, and the Wolves barely made the playoffs with a .500 record. Then the next year? Conference finals.
Finch doesnt run plays at all, Jaden McDaniels and mike conley are the real problem! They both are self check.
Now twolves fans know my pain from seasons prior. RANDLE never played defense at all out here in NY, and I'm tired of his lack of commitment to that side of the ball. Just like us, yall pride your team on good defense. And everone in the world of sports knows, a good defense is an important pillar to winning a championship 🏆… Ju betta get his act right before its too late. And yes, #FREEDONTE!!! I want my son back home!!! I hate rules… Smh
Knicks fan here. Julius is a problem. The reason he wasn't a problem The last 2 years is because:
a. Tom Thibideau found a way to get the best out of him after a horrendous season (especially his relationship with the fans).
b. The Knicks made it apparent the keys were given to Brunson and Randle had to figure out how to be a Robin to hus batman and he bought into that role.
IDK the head coach in Minnesota, but I guarantee the respect is not there like it was for Thibodeaux. Randle truly reverted back to the basketball that frustrated us for years. That 20 – 10 in inefficiency is his ceiling. Ball-stoppage is his bread and butter, spinning into a double team and turning over the ball is a guarantee. I don't say this gloating, but the Knicks front office totally fleeced this organization and stuck them with a team cancer.
I’ve watched about 10 wolves games but it seems all their issues are chemistry, ego @ communication lol
I had so much high hope for the Timberwolves coming into this season, and it's been so disappointing.
While I had absolutely no hope for the Vikings coming into this season and their killing it.
Grant doesnt play D either while being a long term expensive deal, so that wont happen. distressed asset move was the Kat/Randle swap. wolves also jacked up kat's value before trading him – same issue w randle.