Julius Randle is returning to New York City. As a member of the Brooklyn Nets, that is.
On Monday evening, we welcomed all to the “Sean Marks Trade Zone,” now that there are under 24 hours to go until the NBA Draft. We noted: “Nine years out the 10 he’s been GM, with the exception of 2022, Marks has made at least one move in said zone.”
One hour later, Shams Charania of ESPN broke the news that the Brooklyn Nets had traded for Julius Randle in a three-team deal that send Nic Claxton to the Chicago
Bulls…
The Minnesota Timberwolves clear cap space and a starting role for Naz Reid, the Chicago Bulls receive a functional center for nothing other than the cost of his slightly overpriced $22 million annual salary, and the Brooklyn Nets receive a three-time NBA All-Star making about $69 million over the next two seasons, or just over 20% of the cap. Put plainly: The Brooklyn Nets just paid $27 million over the next two seasons to replace Claxton with Randle.
Randle will turn 32 years old in November, and just averaged 21/7/5 in his second and final season with the Wolves, during which there was noise about his fit (or lack thereof) in the locker room. With the Nets, Randle gets to return to New York City, where he wore a Knick uniform for five seasons, and attempt to help lead the Nets toward a playoff spot.
There were also picks exchanged in this deal: Brooklyn gets the #28 pick from Minnesota in return for the #33 pick, moving up five spots. As of Monday evening, the Nets currently own the #6, #28, and #43 picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, which begins on Tuesday evening. Minnesota likely agreed to swap picks as a cost-cutting maneuver; the financial difference between any first-rounder and second-rounder, even just five spots apart, is significant.
As for the Nets, this doesn’t necessarily mark the end of their activity in the trade market. They could use the #28 pick (in conjunction with the #43 pick) to continue moving up in the first round. The trade likely won’t be finalized for a couple weeks.
Nic Claxton was the #31 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and was the only Net to witness the entire rise and fall of the squad. The Clean Sweep signing, the Steve Nash experience, both James Harden trades, the arrival of The Twins, his own leap and subsequent decline, the tanking years, all of it. Now, he’s a Chicago Bull. Time flies.
