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Wolves to debut Julius Randle, new-look starting five against Bulls

The plan is for Randle to play one preseason game this week and be ready to go for the regular season opener.
Will Ragatz|
Oct 13, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, right, looks on during the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Oct 13, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, right, looks on during the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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Minnesota Timberwolves

Julius Randle is expected to make his Timberwolves preseason debut on Wednesday against the Bulls, according to multiple reports. That'll be the first look at Minnesota's new starting lineup of Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Randle, and Rudy Gobert.

It'll also be the only look at that starting five prior to the regular season opener against the Lakers on Tuesday the 22nd. The Wolves host the Nuggets on Thursday to wrap up their five-game preseason slate, but it's safe to assume that most or all of their starters, Randle certainly included, won't play in that game on the second half of a back-to-back.

"That's the goal, but you can always have a plan in the preseason and you have to stay flexible with what's going on with availability," head coach Chris Finch said, via Wolves radio announcer Alan Horton.

Randle has sat out the last three contests while finishing up some rehab on his shoulder, although he's been practicing with his new team since the blockbuster trade that brought him and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota for Karl-Anthony Towns was finalized earlier this month.

The Wolves have ramped up the playing time of their starters and other key rotation players over the course of this preseason. In Sunday's game against the Knicks, each of Edwards, Gobert, and DiVincenzo played at least 27 minutes. Edwards had 31 points and 8 threes in that game, while DiVincenzo had 15 points and 7 assists.

Barring any sort of setback, Randle will get his feet wet in a Wolves jersey on Wednesday and will be ready to roll with the rest of the starters against the Lakers on NBA opening night.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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