The Timberwolves have a Julius Randle advantage that other teams can only match

How teams survive the minutes when their star player is not on the field is a huge problem in the league in general. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Denver Nuggets are 17.7 points per 100 possessions better with Nikola Jokic on the court, the Milwaukee Bucks are 21.2 points per 100 possessions better with Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are 7.4 points per 100 possessions better with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the court.

I don’t want to bore you, but the list goes on. However, that is not a problem for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Wolves are 7.7 points per 100 possessions worse overall and just 2.2 points per 100 possessions better on offense with Anthony Edwards on the court. This isn’t to discredit Ant; there’s no denying he’s a top-five player, an all-around elite scorer, and arguably the best clutch scorer in the league.

Rather, my point is that the Wolves’ incredible scoring options outside of Edwards — especially Julius Randle — turn what should be a weakness into a clear strength.

Randle is helping the Wolves offense thrive without Edwards

The likes of Jaden McDaniels, Donte DiVincenzo, Naz Reid, Rudy Gobert and Bones Hyland all help the Wolves maintain their success when Edwards is off the court or out of the lineup altogether. Nevertheless, there’s no denying that Randle is the biggest catalyst for the Wolves’ success in non-Edwards minutes.

In the lineup with Randle but without Edwards, the Wolves have a net rating of plus-6.6 and an offensive rating of 119.5. Additionally, the Wolves are 5-3 without Edwards this season, with Randle averaging 25.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists during those games. Tuesday’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks, in which Randle poured in 28 points, eight rebounds and six assists, is the latest example.

Randle’s ability to provide first-option level production in games or minutes without Edwards is a real luxury for the Wolves.

Many co-stars excel at playing off their superstars but struggle without them. However, Randle’s style of play makes it easier to maintain a high level of offense without Edwards. Specifically, the 6-foot-1 forward is a productive shot maker and playmaker.

According to Basketball Index, Randle ranks in the 94th percentile in isolation shot making and in the 95th percentile in isolation efficiency. Additionally, he ranks in the 90th percentile in playmaking ability and in the 88th percentile in gravity on the ball.

Randle uses his raw power to exploit mismatches and make easy shots around the rim. His scoring gravity often creates open shots for his teammates, which Randle especially takes advantage of on drive-and-kick passes. Randle’s ability to make the right read while under immense defensive pressure is an incredibly impactful yet underrated skill. It can also be used as a hub for high-ranking playmaking.

Ultimately, it’s rare to get this mix of scoring and playmaking through your second option. This luxury of maintaining a high level of attack without your best player can be matched by few teams in the league. Jalen Brunson and Jaylen Brown are the only superstars who have similar on/off swings as Ant.

In the playoffs, being able to generate a high-quality offense outside of Edwards will be a huge advantage for the Timberwolves.