Timberwolves Make Surprising Julius Randle Trade Before NBA Draft
With the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, the Minnesota Timberwolves made one of the biggest moves of the offseason Monday night, ending Julius Randle's brief tenure with the franchise in a blockbuster three-team deal involving the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls.
The move comes after weeks of speculation surrounding Minnesota's roster plans and just days after reports surfaced that the organization had been exploring the trade market for several veteran players. With Anthony Edwards firmly established as the face of the franchise and the Timberwolves continuing to chase a championship in the Western Conference, Minnesota's front office clearly decided it was time to make a significant change.
The trade not only sends a former All-NBA forward out of town but also reshapes the futures of three franchises just hours before the NBA Draft takes center stage.
Just in: Minnesota is sending Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick in the NBA Draft to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team trade that sends Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls, sources tell ESPN. The Timberwolves will acquire Brooklyn's No. 33 pick for Randle and No. 28. pic.twitter.com/TvADMMNDlg
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2026
Timberwolves Move On From Julius Randle
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Minnesota traded Randle to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a three-team deal that also involved the Chicago Bulls.
The Timberwolves reportedly sent Randle and the No. 28 overall pick to Brooklyn, while Chicago acquired veteran center Nic Claxton. Minnesota's primary return in the deal was Brooklyn's No. 33 overall selection.
The move ends Randle's two-year run in Minnesota after arriving in the blockbuster trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks ahead of the 2024-25 season.
While Randle produced solid numbers during his time with the Timberwolves, questions about his long-term fit persisted.
The three-time All-Star averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists during the 2025-26 season while serving as Minnesota's secondary scoring option behind Edwards.
Playoff Struggles May Have Influenced Decision
Randle's regular-season production remained strong, but his playoff performance left plenty to be desired.
During Minnesota's second-round postseason loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Randle averaged just 12.8 points per game while shooting 34.2 percent from the field and 19 percent from beyond the arc.
Turnovers also became a major issue. He committed five or more turnovers in three of the first four games of the series, contributing to an offensive inconsistency that ultimately hurt the Timberwolves during a critical stretch.
For a team with championship aspirations, those struggles likely played a role in Minnesota's willingness to explore trade options this summer.
What The Move Means For Minnesota
Financial flexibility may have been a major factor as well.
Randle is entering the final guaranteed season of his contract and holds a $35.8 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign. By moving him now, Minnesota avoids uncertainty surrounding his future while adding another draft asset ahead of a pivotal offseason.
The Timberwolves have consistently built around Edwards as their cornerstone player, and this trade could be the first of several moves designed to reshape the roster around the four-time All-Star guard.
Minnesota entered the offseason looking for ways to improve after another deep playoff run fell short of championship expectations.
Monday night's blockbuster signals that the front office isn't afraid to make difficult decisions in pursuit of that goal.
With the NBA Draft beginning Tuesday night, the Timberwolves may not be finished making headlines.
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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 10:50 PM.