The Minnesota Timberwolves are moving on from Julius Randle, agreeing to send the forward and the No. 28 pick in the NBA Draft to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team trade that lands Nic Claxton with the Chicago Bulls. In return, Minnesota acquires Brooklyn's No. 33 pick, sliding back five spots in the second round.

What happened

The deal sends Randle and No. 28 to Brooklyn, routes Claxton to Chicago, and returns the No. 33 selection to Minnesota. The Timberwolves take back a later pick rather than a returning rotation piece, while the Bulls add a rim-protecting center to anchor their frontcourt.

Why it matters

For Minnesota, this reads as a salary-clearing move. The Timberwolves attached a first-round pick to Randle and accepted only a later selection in return, moving his contract off the books. Brooklyn absorbs Randle and climbs to the No. 28 slot, while Chicago reshapes its interior defense around Claxton. The reaction has been pointed, with observers noting Minnesota got little back for a player it once valued highly — the same Julius Randle deal that is now reshaping all three rosters.

By the numbers

The pick movement is the heart of the swap. Minnesota sends No. 28 and receives No. 33, a five-spot drop in the draft order. Brooklyn acquires Randle plus No. 28, and Chicago acquires Claxton.

What to watch next

The next thread is how Minnesota uses its freed cap flexibility heading into the 2026 offseason, and whether Brooklyn retains Randle or flips him again. In Chicago, the fit around Claxton's interior defense will shape how the Bulls round out their frontcourt.