NBA Three-Team Trade Shakeup
Nets Acquire Julius Randle; Three-Team Trade Sends Nic Claxton to Bulls, Reshapes Rosters
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Key Points
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Minnesota moved to shed Julius Randle’s contract and preserve cap space to pursue free agents in a tighter Western Conference, with explicit aims of retaining players like Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland.
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Draft-night asset shuffle saw Brooklyn land Julius Randle and the Nets’ No. 28 pick from Minnesota, while Minnesota received Brooklyn’s No. 33 pick and Nic Claxton moved to the Bulls.
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The No. 28 pick involved in the deal is the Nets’ 2026 draft selection, with the Wolves sending it to Brooklyn as part of this trade.
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Julius Randle’s recent postseason performance underlined some of the risk in the move, as reports noted a dip in efficiency and a 12.8-point average in the 2026 playoffs after a strong regular season.
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Randle’s return to the New York market adds a familiar face given his Knicks links and prior 2024 trade path to Minnesota, framing this as another NYC-area chapter in his career.
The Brooklyn Nets landed Julius Randle and a first-round pick in a three-team deal finalized hours before the 2026 NBA Draft, according to ABC7 NY and TSN. Minnesota sends Randle and the No. 28 overall pick to Brooklyn, Brooklyn sends the No. 33 pick and Nic Claxton onward, and Chicago receives Claxton to fill its frontcourt void.
Randle, a three-time All-Star, averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists last season. He still has two years left on a three-year, $100 million contract, plus a $35.8 million player option for 2027–28, per Spotrac. Brooklyn GM Sean Marks called it a "new direction" for the franchise.
Brooklyn Bets on Randle and Porter Jr. as New Core
Brooklyn pairs Randle with Michael Porter Jr., the forward acquired earlier this year. The Nets had spent years hoarding draft picks after their "Big Three" era collapsed. This deal signals a turn toward a competitive rebuild rather than a full tank, ABC7 Chicago reported.
By jumping five spots — from No. 33 to No. 28 — Brooklyn also adds a cost-controlled rookie to the mix. Sean Marks now has a veteran scorer, an elite shooting forward in Porter Jr., and a first-round pick on one draft night. Randle said returning to the New York area "feels like a homecoming," per the Nets' official press release.
Minnesota Sheds Salary to Chase Free Agents
The Timberwolves moved a 21-point-per-game scorer simply to clear cap room. President Tim Connelly is targeting the retention of guards Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland, two restricted free agents the front office sees as essential, ABC7 NY reported.
The NBA's new collective bargaining agreement punishes teams that cross the "second apron" luxury tax threshold with severe roster restrictions. ESPN's Bobby Marks graded the Timberwolves an "A-" for cap management, noting the move prevents them from being "frozen" heading into free agency. Minnesota slides to No. 33 in the draft — a slight drop, but a price Connelly was willing to pay.
Chicago Plugs Its Frontcourt Gap With Claxton
The Bulls lost center Nikola Vučević earlier this season and fell to the bottom third of the league in defense. Chicago targeted Nic Claxton specifically for his age, rim protection, and versatility, according to league sources cited by ABC7 Chicago.
Claxton has under two years left on a four-year, $97 million deal. That contract gives Chicago a defensive anchor without a long-term commitment beyond next season. He fills an immediate need without forcing the Bulls to surrender any picks.
Randle's Playoff Slump Casts a Shadow Over the Deal
Randle's regular-season numbers were strong, but his postseason raised flags. He averaged just 12.8 points per game in the 2026 playoffs with Minnesota — less than half his regular-season output. Analysts at Cleaning the Glass attributed the dip to spacing problems in Minnesota's offense.
National outlets like The Ringer and Sports Illustrated questioned whether Brooklyn could be "stuck in the middle" — too good for a top lottery pick, not good enough to contend. Randle will turn 32 during the contract, and his $35.8 million player option looms as a potential anchor if his efficiency continues to slide. Brooklyn is betting the New York environment — and better spacing alongside Porter Jr. — sparks a bounce-back.
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