It only took two games for Julius Randle to show his tremendous potential

After being acquired in a blockbuster trade less than a month ago, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle continues to adjust to his new role in the Twin Cities. Randle struggled to find a rhythm in the regular-season opener before bouncing back with a team-high 33 points in a 117-115 win over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.

Randle is in the midst of a challenging transition, having joined the Timberwolves in late September, and is expected to immediately step into a role as a key contributor on both ends of the floor. Randles felt fit in the season opener after failing to find his footing during Minnesota's 110-103 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

Just two days later, it looks like Randle is starting to understand his role alongside his Timberwolves teammates, including star guard Anthony Edwards. It can be difficult for players to adapt to a new environment, so it's no surprise that there will be an adjustment period for Randle. With this in mind, he seems to be on the right track.

Randle finished his debut with solid numbers, but they didn't reflect his potential. Against the Lakers, he scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds while shooting 5 of 10 from the field. His fortunes changed in his second outing when he exploded for 33 points to go with five rebounds on an efficient 13-for-17 shooting from the field and 5-for-6 from three-point territory.

This game highlighted Randle's dynamic ability and versatility, which will be critical to the franchise achieving its championship ambitions this season. Randle has shown not only his elite scoring ability, but also his increasing comfort in the Timberwolves' system, and that should continue to improve as the regular season progresses.

As he continues to develop chemistry with his new coaches and teammates, Randle's presence on the court will be critical to the Timberwolves' success on both offense and defense. If Randle is able to give others quality looks, maintain his scoring efficiency, and shoot at a decent rate from distance, the trade will certainly be worth it.

The Minnesota coaching staff has stressed the importance of Randle finding a rhythm in his new role, and it's a good sign that it only took him a few games to make such a big impact. Randle's adjustment to the team will be an important storyline to watch, and his addition could ultimately help the Timberwolves reach historic heights as the season progresses.