Julius Randle has developed into a crucial piece for Minnesota, which reached the Western Conference Finals after eliminating the Warriors.

The possibility that the Timberwolves, fresh off a conference finals run, might have actually gotten better by swapping out Towns for Julius Randle was hardly considered.  If anything, the Randle fit with Minnesota was largely derided.

Former Kentucky Wildcat Julius Randle and the Minnesota Timberwolves punched their ticket to the Western Conference Finals when they beat the Golden State Warriors (4-1) in a best-of-seven series earlier this week.