Fast forward to May 19: both the Knicks and Timberwolves are in the Conference Finals. Towns and New York defeated the No. 2-seeded Celtics in six games to advance, while Randle played a huge role in the Timberwolves’ semifinals series against the Warriors.

The shocking September trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks and brought Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota is looking like a win-win for both squads. State of play: The Wolves are back in the Western Conference Finals (starting tonight!

This postseason, Randle shined against the Lakers, who drafted him No. 7 overall in 2014 and let him walk in free agency four years later. Randle handled the primary matchup with LeBron James and averaged 22.6 points per game in a five-game series win over Los Angeles in the first round.

On the other side of the bracket, a story has developed that should intrigue and maybe surprise Knicks fans. Julius Randle, the former playoff bust in New York, emerged as a two-w

The Minnesota Timberwolves wouldn’t be where they are if it weren’t for Julius Randle, whom they acquired last summer from the New York Knicks in exchange for Karl-Anthony Towns.

Randle swap just become the NBA’s rarest win-win trade? A bold move paying off for both teams in surprising ways.

Stephen A. Smith says Julius Randle is key to the Timberwolves’ success as they prepare to face the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.

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.