NEW YORK -- The Brooklyn Nets made an interesting choice this offseason when they traded for former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle in the early days of free-agency as the team was looking for improvements. Brooklyn has been looking to add more talent to the roster over the course of this rebuild and Randle's skillset can open up different parts of the offense moving forward.
"He's proven that he's a very efficient player at very different levels. His seasons with the Knicks when he shot eight-plus threes [per game], seasons where he's isolated more, being in pick-and-roll, his ability to playmake," Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said of Randle earlier in training camp. At this point, Randle is heading into his 13th NBA season and what
he can do on the floor is well-documented.
"I love to be coached and I think there's different ways he'll challenge me in parts of the game, whether it's my rebounding or if it's running the floor or if it's being better on defense, stuff like that," Randle said of his relationship with Fernandez. "I'm not afraid to be coached and whatever he needs to do, I feel like you should coach your best players the hardest. He's not afraid to speak up if he sees something or if he needs something from me."
Randle, 31, is coming off a 2025-26 season in which he averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 48.1% from the field and 31.5% from three-point range. Last season, the Nets finished last in the league in points scored per game (105.9) and offensive rating (108.7) so it's clear that anything Randle can add to the team offensively will be greatly appreciated.
Forward Michael Porter Jr. led the way for Brooklyn last season and while he had the best season of his career, the Nets still struggled as a whole as the team is still developing the younger players on the roster. With Randle joining the team, he'll not only add a veteran presence thanks to his time in the NBA, but he'll also bring an element to the court that the Nets have been looking for since the rebuild began.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Jordi Fernandez explains how Julius Randle opens up the offense
