Julius Randle heads to Nets, Nic Claxton to Bulls in three-team trade
The Minnesota Timberwolves traded forward Julius Randle and a 2026 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets, while the Chicago Bulls received center Nic Claxton from Brooklyn, completing a three-team deal that also involved a player swap with Minnesota.
The Minnesota Timberwolves sent forward Julius Randle and the 28th overall pick in the 2026 draft to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team transaction that also included the Chicago Bulls. Chicago acquired center Nic Claxton from Brooklyn, using its available cap space, while the Bulls sent forward Mouhamadou Gueye to Minnesota to satisfy league requirements. The trade cannot be finalized until the NBA’s moratorium period ends on July 6.
Randle, a three-time All-Star who posted 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game for Minnesota last season, will join a Nets roster looking to improve after a rebuilding stretch. He carries a $33.3 million salary for the upcoming season with a $35.8 million player option for 2027-28.
The move creates a $33.3 million traded-player exception for Minnesota, giving the Timberwolves financial flexibility to re-sign guard Ayo Dosunmu and access additional salary-cap exceptions. The Nets, meanwhile, moved up in the draft, adding a second first-round pick and bolstering their frontcourt with Randle, and are projected to retain roughly $20.2 million in cap space after the deal.
Chicago receives Claxton, a 27-year-old center who spent seven seasons with Brooklyn after being selected 31st overall in 2019. He averaged 11.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game last season and will earn $23.1 million in the 2026-27 season, leaving the Bulls with an estimated $33 million of cap room remaining.
"The trade gives Minnesota a massive traded-player exception and additional cap flexibility," noted NBA analyst Yossi Gozlan. "Chicago adds a starting-level center without sacrificing any players, only using projected cap space," added another league source.