The Minnesota Timberwolves have just made one of the most fascinating moves of the offseason. After Julius Randle‘s disappointing postseason performance against the Spurs, Minnesota elected to trade the former All-NBA forward in a three-team blockbuster involving the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls.
The deal sends Randle and the No. 28 pick to Brooklyn, Nicolas Claxton to Chicago, and only the No. 33 pick back to Minnesota.
Full Trade Details
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: Mouhamed Gueye, 2026 No. 33 overall pick
Chicago Bulls Receive: Nicolas Claxton
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Julius Randle, 2026 No. 28 overall pick
At first glance, it looks shocking that the Timberwolves received so little in return. But this trade involves more than just player names.
It was about moving on from a massive contract that no longer fit the team’s direction, especially after this season’s playoff run.
Meanwhile, the Nets landed the biggest name in the deal and another first-round pick, while the Bulls quietly addressed one of their biggest weaknesses with a starting-caliber center.
So who won the trade? Let’s hand out the grades.
Minnesota Timberwolves: C+
From a pure basketball point of view, the Timberwolves traded away a three-time All-Star and received only a five-spot jump in the draft, moving from No. 28 to No. 33. That’s a tough sell. If Randle returns to All-NBA form in Brooklyn, this trade could look ugly in hindsight.
However, Minnesota clearly decided the partnership had reached its ceiling. Randle’s playoff struggles were impossible to ignore.
He posted 16.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game on 39.0% from the field and 24.4% from three in the postseason as a whole. Against San Antonio, he often looked out of sync offensively and struggled to impact games completely.
He only averaged 12.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.0 blocks per game on 34.2% from the field and 19.0% from three. For a team with championship aspirations built around Anthony Edwards, those concerns could not be ignored.
The financial benefits are enormous. Minnesota sheds nearly $36 million in salary commitments while creating a massive traded-player exception worth approximately $33 million.
Mouhamed Gueye, at 23 years old and 6’11”, has potential as a two-way big man who averaged 4.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game this past season. If anything, the Timberwolves replaced Randle with a player who has somewhat of a similar build.
More importantly, the move gives the front office a strong chance of retaining Ayo Dosunmu and adding depth around Edwards. The Timberwolves sacrificed talent today for flexibility down the road. And they also have Naz Reid and Rudy Gobert to man the middle with Randle gone.
We are currently giving it a C+ because they lost the best player in the trade, and we still don’t know what they will use their newfound resources for. If they make the right moves, this grade should be higher. If not, it probably isn’t lower than a C+.
Brooklyn Nets: B+
Brooklyn entered the offseason with a ton of cap space. The Nets absorb Julius Randle into their available cap room and are compensated with the No. 28 pick for doing so.
That’s excellent business. They essentially purchased a first-round selection while acquiring a player who has made three All-Star teams and two All-NBA squads.
Randle isn’t a perfect fit. His ball-dominant style and inconsistent outside shooting (31.5% 3-PT FG this past season) create questions about how high Brooklyn’s ceiling can be with him as a featured option.
But the Nets aren’t operating like a contender (20-62 in 2025-26) since they want to collect and develop assets while remaining competitive.
At just 31 years old, Randle could rebuild his value in Brooklyn. If he performs well, the Nets could either keep him as a cornerstone player or potentially flip him for additional assets before his contract expires. Randle is making $33,333,334 in 2026-27 and has a player option worth 35,802,468 a year later.
Giving up Nic Claxton ($23,320,738 and $21,099,720 over the next two seasons) hurts, but Brooklyn clearly viewed Claxton as expendable given their rebuild. Turning a center they weren’t fully committed to into Randle, and a first-round pick is a solid return.
Chicago Bulls: A
Chicago may have emerged as the biggest winner of the trade. The Bulls desperately needed a new starting center after trading Nikola Vucevic last season.
Nic Claxton checks every box. At 27 years old, he fits the roster that is trying to become younger, faster, and more versatile. Claxton averaged 11.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game on 57.1% from the field.
For one, Claxton immediately upgrades Chicago’s defense. Chicago ranked 28th in defense (121.5 OPPG) and 22nd in defensive rating (118.1), so there is a dire need for a big man on a team that finished 31-51.
Athletic and defensive skills are traits that the Bulls have lacked at the center position for years. His mobility should also complement Chicago’s collection of young perimeter players, including Josh Giddey.
The most impressive part of the move is that Chicago acquired Claxton while still maintaining roughly $30 million in cap space. They improved a major position of need without sacrificing flexibility, giving the front office hope to improve the roster throughout the offseason.
The Bulls didn’t land the biggest name in the trade, but they may have landed the best value.
Julius Randle: B+
For Julius Randle, this is exactly the fresh start he needed.
After a frustrating playoff run with Minnesota, where his fit alongside Anthony Edwards came under heavy scrutiny, Randle now lands in a situation where he’ll have far more offensive freedom.
Brooklyn lacks a proven No. 1 scoring option outside of Michael Porter Jr, meaning Randle should immediately become one of the focal points of the offense. The Nets are betting that the player who made three All-Star teams and two All-NBA squads is still there beneath the disappointing postseason showing.
Randle won’t face the same championship-level expectations he had in Minnesota, and he’ll have a chance to rebuild his value entering what could be a pivotal stretch of his career.
If he puts up numbers similar to his New York peak, Brooklyn could either keep him as a veteran leader or move him for assets down the road.
The downside is that he leaves a legitimate contender for a team that is still years away from competing for a championship. From a team perspective, it’s a big step down. From a personal point of view, it is a step up.
Nic Claxton: A-
Claxton should be thrilled with this move. The Bulls have desperately needed a defensive anchor, and Claxton walks into a starting role with an opportunity to make an immediate impact.
Perhaps most importantly, Chicago appears committed to building around younger players and athleticism. Claxton fits that identity perfectly. At 27 years old, he enters his prime on a team that should maximize his strengths.
While Chicago isn’t a championship contender, the fit is excellent. Claxton should see plenty of minutes, maintain a major defensive role, and have the chance to showcase his true talents.
The only reason this isn’t an A or A+ is that the Bulls remain a work in progress, and there are questions about how quickly they can become relevant in the East.
