The Minnesota Timberwolves have traded Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team deal that also sends center Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday night.
Minnesota is giving up Randle and the No. 28 pick in Tuesday night’s NBA draft in exchange for Brooklyn's 33rd pick at the top of the second round. Randle has two years left on the three-year, $100 million contract he signed with the Wolves last offseason, which includes a $35.8 million player option in 2027–28. The Wolves shed Randle's salary in an effort to retain key free agents like Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland, and can now use that room to pursue additional players and make a leap in the competitive Western Conference. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Wolves will receive former Raptors forward Mouhamadou Gueye from the Bulls in the trade. Gueye has a $2.4 million team option for next season, which the Wolves can decline to remove that salary from their books for next year.
