It's only Game 1, but Julius Randle, the new Timberwolves flop against the Lakers

LOS ANGELES – Much of the discussion surrounding Julius Randle's arrival in Minnesota has been to confirm a reunion with coach Chris Finch and to praise the new dimension his skills bring to the Timberwolves.

Randle has spoken enthusiastically about the warm reception he has received both within the organization and in the community, comparing the more open spaces he sees in Minnesota to his native Texas. It all raised hopes that the disruption caused by the seismic trade that brought him and Donte DiVincenzo to the Wolves just before the start of training camp could be mitigated by what appeared to be built-in synergies.

After Randle and the Timberwolves suffered a season-opening 110-103 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, it was clear that there was still a lot of adjustment to be made. The wolves seemed a bit slow throughout the night. The offense was stagnant and lacked any of the ball movement that was so encouraging in the preseason. The defense was stuck in the mud as the Lakers' Anthony Davis torched them all night long.

Randle looked like a player who hadn't played since January because of a shoulder injury and was still getting used to his new team. He had 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists and was the only Wolves starter on the right side of the plus-minus list (plus-2 in 34 minutes). But the eye test told a different story. He was beaten for setbacks, offered little resistance at the rim against Davis and LeBron James, and didn't play with the power that characterizes his game.

👑🤯 pic.twitter.com/rffuEKat07

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 23, 2024

“I had no expectations other than winning,” Randle said. “I didn’t think it would be nice or perfect or anything like that. It's the first game. I just came expecting to win, but we didn't. We have a lot of potential and a lot of room to grow.”

Randle came to Minnesota as part of the trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to New York. Perhaps it wasn't a coincidence that the Knicks were blown out by the Boston Celtics earlier that evening. Both teams, involved in one of the biggest trades of the offseason, appeared confused, belying the high expectations both teams had entering the season.

Randle wasn't the only Timberwolves player unable to find a rhythm. Mike Conley has been the team's most reliable player since transferring from Utah in 2022. But he had one of his worst games in a Minnesota jersey with five points on 1-of-7 shooting and three turnovers. The Timberwolves were outscored by 22 points in his 20 minutes, a shocking result for such an important player on the roster.

Jaden McDaniels was limited to 16 minutes due to foul trouble, DiVincenzo went 3 of 11 and Gobert, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, was coached by Davis to 36 points, 16 rebounds and three blocked shots on the same day Gobert agreed to the terms of one three-year contract extension worth $110 million.

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— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 23, 2024

“They were the team that got the most 50-50 balls. This can’t happen,” said Gobert, who had 13 points and 14 rebounds in 35 minutes. “It has to be who we are every night. This is our identity. That's one of the reasons we were so good last year. We were the hungriest team almost every night. We have to find that.”

The fact that the Wolves were already talking about hunger and hard play after the first game gives cause for slight concern. It's just one of 82 games, but one of the biggest drivers of their run to the conference finals last season was the effort they gave every night. They turned the ball over 16 times, were just 13 for 41 (31.7 percent) from 3 and had no answer for Davis on either end of the court.

“We need to find a different level of urgency now,” Finch said. “The season started and we didn’t answer the bell.”

Anthony Edwards scored 27 points, six rebounds and three assists and was one of the few Wolves players who showed consistent aggression and energy in the game. But he also turned the ball over four times, missed 15 of his 25 shots and didn't move the ball the way Finch had emphasized all season.

The Wolves managed just 17 assists and were outscored 72-40 in the game, a glaring stat for a team that prides itself on taking the option ring away from its opponent.

Finch had hoped he wouldn't have such a lifeless performance at the start of such a highly anticipated season, but he couldn't have been surprised. Randle and DiVincenzo had been in Minnesota less than a month since the trade. The starting eleven only played one preparatory game together. Randle still has a lot of playing to do before he can find the rhythm lost with the shoulder injury.

“I feel great. The first game in a long time, new team, new players, everything. To me, none of this is an excuse,” Randle said. “I will continue to build, continue to improve and find ways to improve. For me it’s not necessarily about the goal, but about the little things.”

He pointed out that rebounding is a particular area that needs to be improved. The Wolves outscored the Lakers 47-46 but allowed 15 offensive rebounds. Combined with Minnesota's 16 turnovers, this gave Los Angeles ten more shots in the game.

“I take it personally because I take pride in being able to return the ball,” Randle said. “It’s the little things we need to sort out and everything else will fall into place.”

The game felt eerily similar to an opening loss in Toronto last season. Wolves went into this game with high hopes after a strong pre-season, but much of the ball movement and power the team played with before the start of the season was not present in the opening game. The Wolves bounced back, winning 56 games and reaching the conference finals, so this team has plenty of time to figure things out.

The most concerning thing is that the Lakers themselves, aside from Davis, haven't played well. They shot 5 of 30 from 3 (16.7 percent). Had that number been closer to their norm, this would have been a slam dunk.

“There were a few times where Bron hit me back and stuff like that, that can't be happening,” Randle said. “We’ll watch the film, but personally I have to take responsibility for my mistakes and get better from there.”

Minnesota's defense forced just five turnovers and was shredded to the rim in the second quarter when Gobert went to the bench. Finch played nine players – Joe Ingles was ninth with seven minutes – after saying in preseason that he believed the rotation would be up to 10. Josh Minott, a preseason standout and No. 8 overall pick Rob Dillingham, did not participate in the game.

AUSTIN. AND ONE. pic.twitter.com/emm2G2c6tY

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 23, 2024

On the bright side, Nickeil Alexander-Walker played well with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including three three-pointers. The Wolves outscored Los Angeles by 13 points in its 28 minutes.

Shortly before the game, Gobert completed his contract, securing his permanent presence in Minnesota for the long term. It was a significant move on several fronts, starting with the Wolves locking up their defensive mastermind so his contract status didn't become a lingering issue.

Gobert had two years left on his contract, including a $47 million player option for 2025-26. That number would have made it incredibly difficult for the Wolves to retain Reid, who has achieved folk hero status in Minnesota and is viewed as an important part of their young core.

Gobert will waive his player option as part of the new deal to gain long-term clarity while also reducing his salary so the Wolves can focus their attention on locking Reid up. The setback was so significant that it may also allow Minnesota to keep Alexander-Walker, team sources said.

Alexander-Walker has established himself as a valuable winger off the bench. He is also an important part of the Wolves' tight-knit locker room, and Tim Connelly, president of basketball operations, places a high value on high-character players who bring good vibes to the squad.

“It was never about money,” Gobert said. “But at this point in my career, it’s even more about being where I feel at home and where I can win championships.”

Just days before training camp began, the trade turned everyone's world upside down. It will take some time to figure this out. Finch said he may have made the defensive concepts too complex for the first game of the season and said they would simplify things before playing in Sacramento on Thursday.

“Really disjointed,” Finch said. “Like all the flow, rhythm and goodwill that we built on offense in the preseason, we just lacked it.”

(Photo of Gabe Vincent, LeBron James, Julius Randle and Anthony Davis: David Crane / Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)