After a season in which the Timberwolves’ locker room reportedly carried plenty of heavy energy, Julius Randle is getting a big share of the blame - but he wasn’t the only one whose mood was under the microscope.
Julius Randle’s name has come up again because some around the team viewed his demeanor as part of the problem last year. But according to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski, the issue went beyond one player. Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, and others also fit that same quieter, more brooding profile.
“Everyone immediately looks at Julius Randle and he is certainly one of the culprits… They could be Eeyore every once in a while… Julius certainly was a part of that when his name got brought up in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks. He didn't really like that at all and he wears his heart on his sleeve, so you could see that.
“But Naz Reid could get moody, Jaden McDaniels could get moody. Like, there's a lot of quiet, brooding personalities that were in the locker room last year. You bring LaMelo Ball in here and he's much more upbeat and energetic, so there's definitely been a vibe shift.”
That’s part of the backdrop to the Timberwolves’ summer moves, which sent Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team deal with the Chicago Bulls. Naz Reid also went to the Hornets as part of the swap, with LaMelo Ball, Josh Green, and a 2026 second-round pick (Isaiah Evans) coming back to Minnesota.
Ball’s arrival is being framed as more than just a talent upgrade. LaMelo Ball helped lead the Charlotte Hornets to their first 44+ win season in a decade, and the idea is that his energy changes the room as much as his game changes the lineup.
On Monday, the Timberwolves backed up the buzz with a 122-104 win over the New York Knicks. Anthony Edwards scored 26 points and added three rebounds, three assists, and one steal, while Ball chipped in 10 points, seven assists, and three rebounds.
Julius Randle was "one of the culprits" behind Minnesota’s moody locker room last season, per @JonKrawczynski
— NBABase (@TheNBABase) October 14, 2026
“Everyone immediately looks at Julius Randle and he is certainly one of the culprits... They could be Eeyore every once in a while... Julius certainly was a part of… pic.twitter.com/N1TjqYdJUU
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