Just a month into the offseason, though, that dominant core took a massive change. Two months later, that strong core had all but disappeared.

There was no Villanova reunion. There was no anticipated spat with Rick Brunson to keep an eye on. Former fans didn’t have the chance to watch him play on the Garden floor during what has been a hot streak for the Delaware native.

The 21-19 Minnesota Timberwolves have struggled to get on the same page at times after making a monstrous offseason trade that brought in Julius Randle

It sucks,” Randle said. “I guess we’ll never know what could’ve been. I think the more unfortunate part is everything was a build, a constant build — I feel like all our teams overachieved year

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) shoots at the basket as Boston Celtics forwards Xavier Tillman (26) and Jayson Tatum (0) defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) AP

When Julius Randle signed with the Knicks in the summer of 2019, he joined a team that had just suffered its sixth consecutive losing season. The Knicks were fresh off of a 17-win campaign that matched the worst season in franchise history.

Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns is questionable to face his former team Friday with a sprained right thumb, while Minnesota’s Donte DiVincenzo will miss his return to Madison Square Garden with a toe injury.

Donte DiVincenzo thinks every shot is going ... But without three-time All-Star Julius Randle (season-ending shoulder surgery) and sixth man Bojan Bogdanovic (season-ending ankle surgery), Knicks ...

Cleveland guard Donovan Mitchell works toward the basket against Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards during the first half Saturday. (Abbie Parr/The Associated Press)

A night after besting the Knicks in New York, the Wolves were going toe to toe with Cleveland. With Evan Mobley sidelined with an injury for the Cavaliers, Minnesota was physically dominating a team that sits comfortably atop the Eastern Conference.

The Phoenix Suns want Jimmy Butler, but it's a pipe dream. These teams should be thought of more as destinations for the disgruntled Miami Heat All-Star.