The Minnesota Timberwolves have made the decision to trade All-Star forward Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team deal that also involves Nic Claxton being sent to the Chicago Bulls, as first reported by ESPN.
In addition to sending Randle to Brooklyn, the Wolves are also acquiring the No. 33 pick in the draft from the Nets in exchange for the No. 28 pick at the end of the first round. Last year, Randle signed a three-year, $100 million contract. It now appears as if he will finish said contract in New York, after previously spending five seasons with the Knicks before being traded for Karl-Anthony Towns in 2024.
By making this move, the Timberwolves free up significant cap space, which will be utilized to retain free agent guard Ayo Dosunmu and utilize traded player exceptions to fortify their overall depth and roster quality around superstar guard Anthony Edwards.
One of Tim Connelly's main goals and that of the Wolves this offseason was to find a way to cut their overall costs while still maintaining flexibility to build around Edwards. Randle's remaining two years and $68 million on his contract now go to Brooklyn, which completely takes Minnesota out of the luxury tax, and giving them over $40 million to play with under the tax level.
Last week, ClutchPoints reported that the Wolves were engaging in trade conversations with teams focused on Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and the No. 28 overall pick to open up cap flexibility and improve their chances of adding another star around Edwards. This trade accomplishes such, as Minnesota can now go a variety of ways to surround Edwards with championship-level talents.
Overall, the Timberwolves have cut their costs tremendously to make re-signing Dosunmu their priority in free agency, while also opening up their full mid-level exception. Trading Randle clears $36 million from the Wolves' books this upcoming year, and it also moves them $50 million below the first apron. This trade creates a $33 million trade exception that Minnesota can use at any point over the next year.
Minnesota also moves out of a guaranteed first-round rookie contract in favor of the 33rd overall pick, where Zuby Ejiofor and Alex Karaban stand out as two early second-round targets for them.
For the Bulls, they take on the remaining $44 million over the next two years on Claxton's contract to add an impactful rim-running big man who will immediately make a defensive impact for new head coach Tiago Splitter.
It was clear that the Bulls would either add frontcourt talent this offseason, specifically an athletic above-the-rim threat who fits new executive Bryson Graham's ideology of adding athleticism and length. Claxton fits this description, as he's averaged 11.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 61.8 percent from the floor over the last four seasons in Brooklyn.
He finished ninth in the voting for the 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
The Bulls had close to $54 million in cap space to use this offseason, and will absorb Claxton's $23.3 million salary for the 2026-27 season into said cap space immediately, giving them about $31 million to play with in free agency or further trades this summer should they choose to do so.
Despite being a productive center for the Nets, it had become clear that Claxton's time was nearing an end. Aside from being involved in trade chatter last summer and at the trade deadline in February, the Nets have both Day'Ron Sharpe and Noah Clowney as viable frontcourt options who have been taking minutes from Claxton.
Over the last few weeks, the Nets had been searching for ways to add another pick in this year's draft in order to improve their chances of becoming competitive in the Eastern Conference. Now, in addition to owning the No. 6 and No. 28 picks, Brooklyn adds Randle, an established star who can play alongside Michael Porter Jr. and help this young team take the next step in the Eastern Conference.
This trade now technically gives the Nets 15 first-round picks through 2033, including their two picks in Tuesday's first round.
