There’s been a blockbuster trade in on the eve of the 2026 NBA Draft. Shams Charania of ESPN is reporting that the Minnesota Timberwolves have traded forward Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets. Along with Randle, Minnesota is sending the 28th pick in this year’s draft. In exchange, the Timberwolves will receive the 33rd pick in the draft. Center Nic Claxton is headed from the Nets to the Chicago Bulls as part of the exchange.
The Nets are able to accept this imbalanced deal–which includes Randle’s
$33 million salary–because they have the potential to clear almost $50 million in cap space for deals this summer if needed. The Bulls are similarly flush with unspent cap room, which allows them to absorb Claxton’s $23 million salary.
Randle averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds [waving arms up and down], and 5.0 assists this year in 33.0 minutes per game in 79 appearances for the Timberwolves. His contract runs through 2027 with a player option for the ’27-’28 season. Before joining the ‘Wolves, Randle played for the Nets’ cross-borough rivals, the New York Knicks.
Claxton averaged 11.7 points, 6.9 rebounds [nice!], and 3.7 assists in 27.8 minutes over 69 games [nic…ohhh forget it] with the Nets this season.
