{"id":201726,"date":"2026-06-23T01:21:24","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T05:21:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=201726"},"modified":"2026-06-23T01:21:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T05:21:24","slug":"julius-randle-trade-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/06\/23\/julius-randle-trade-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Analyzing The Surprising 3-Team Trade That Sees Julius Randle Head To Brooklyn and Nic Claxton To Bulls"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In a surprising move, the<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/nets\/\" target=\"_self\"> Brooklyn Nets<\/a> hooked up with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls for a three-team trade that centers around<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/randlju01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Julius Randle<\/a>. The trade won&#8217;t be official until the start of the 2026 NBA fiscal year.<\/p>\n<p>According to ESPN&#8217;s Shams Charania, Randle is headed to Brooklyn along with the No. 28 pick in this year&#8217;s draft. Minnesota receives the Nets&#8217; No. 33 pick in 2026 and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/gueyemo02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mo Gueye<\/a> from the Bulls. Meanwhile, Chicago gets <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/claxtni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nic Claxton.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">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\u2019s No. 33 pick for Randle and No. 28. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/TvADMMNDlg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/TvADMMNDlg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ShamsCharania\/status\/2069242201641517467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 23, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Timberwolves trade Julius Randle to Nets who trade Nic Claxton to Bulls\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/P0v7bIOwmks?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Who Won The 3-Team Julius Randle Trade and What Does It Mean For Each Franchise?<\/h2>\n<p>Julius Randle heads back to New York City, where he played five years with the Knicks before spending the last two seasons with the Timberwolves. The two-time all-star is coming off a nice bounce-back campaign this past season as he averaged 21.1, 6.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and a career-best 1.1 steals.\u00a0 He has two years and $69.1 million remaining on his contract, with 2027-28 as a player option. The Nets are the 31-year-old&#8217;s fifth team since being the No. 7 overall pick in 2014.<\/p>\n<p>Claxton has spent his entire, much-maligned seven-year career with the Nets. The athletic 27-year-old has seen his production and efficiency decline since posting a career season in 2022-23, when he finished ninth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He has two years and $44 million left on his contract.<\/p>\n<h3>Nets Trade Grade: A+<\/h3>\n<p>Brooklyn has undergone a painful yet fruitful rebuild over the last two seasons, winning 42 games. The Nets went 20-62 this past season, finishing last in offensive efficiency and scoring. They averaged 105.9 points a game, which was nearly five points fewer than any other team in the league.<\/p>\n<p>Julius Randle is an offensive savant. Randle provides the Nets with a reliable secondary whom they can run their offense through and create in the half-court.\u00a0 He also figures to provide leadership for the youngest team in the NBA last season, with an average of 23.3, and to start in the frontcourt alongside <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/sharpda01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Day&#8217;Ron Sharpe<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/portemi01\/gamelog-advanced\/2026\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Michael Porter Jr<\/a>. Sharpe has a $6.5 million club option for the upcoming campaign that the Nets were expected\u00a0to pick up before the trade.<\/p>\n<p>By sending Claxton to the Bulls, the Nets added just $10.01 million to their $123.56 million ledger for 2026-27. The Nets currently have 13 players under contract and two first-round picks (No.6 and No. 28). They also have the 43rd selection in the second round.<\/p>\n<p>Unless the Nets decide to move on from Porter Jr., who is on an expiring contract, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mannte01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Terrence Mann<\/a>,<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/clownno01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Noah Clowney<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willizi02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ziaire Williams<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willizi02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Josh Minott<\/a>, and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/smithma02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Malachi Smith<\/a> figure to be the likeliest roster casualties, Williams, Minott, and Smith have non-guaranteed deals.<\/p>\n<h3>Chicago Bulls Trade Grade: B<\/h3>\n<p>While Claxton isn&#8217;t a star, he has been a starter in the league for the last four seasons. The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/bulls\/\" target=\"_self\">Bulls<\/a> needed a starting center since trading <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/v\/vucevni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nikola Vucevic<\/a> to Boston at the trade deadline. Plus, they only sent out Mo Gueye in the trade because of their enormous projected cap space.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Bulls will use $23.1 million of their cap space to acquire Nic Claxton.<\/p>\n<p>They go from from $54 million in cap space to $30.9 million in room remaining.<\/p>\n<p>They would still have the $9.4 million room mid-level to use after.<\/p>\n<p>Great business getting him essentially for free. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/IOgBUIOril\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/IOgBUIOril<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/YossiGozlan\/status\/2069245105366601809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 23, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The addition of Claxton aligns with the Bulls&#8217; new vice president of basketball operations, Bryson Graham&#8217;s SLAP identity (Size, Length, Athleticism, Physicality). The 6-11 big gives the Bulls a switchable defender who is a strong rim protector with shot-blocking ability.\u00a0 He is an excellent offensive rebounder, though very limited on that end, with lobs, putbacks, and short rolls being his biggest strengths.<\/p>\n<p>With the addition of Claxton and subtraction of Guye, the Bulls have 10 players under contract with salary obligations increasing to $126.2 million. This doesn&#8217;t account for the salaries of the Bulls&#8217; two first-round picks (No. 4 and No. 15). They also have two second-round selections in 2026: No. 38 and No. 56.<\/p>\n<p><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/millele01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Leonard Miller<\/a> has a non-guaranteed deal, though he is expected to return.\u00a0 Miller was outstanding after coming over from Minnesota at the trade deadline and projects to have a chance to earn a regular rotation role with the team. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/o\/okorois01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Isaac Okoro<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willipa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Patrick Williams<\/a>, and perhaps <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/smithja04\/gamelog-advanced\/2026\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jalen Smith<\/a> are trade candidates.<\/p>\n<p>Gueye, who has a non-guaranteed contract for 2026-27, saw 45 minutes of action in two appearances for the Bulls after signing with the franchise on April 9.<\/p>\n<p><span>&#8220;Bulls had a few options here to make the trade legal (cash, top-55 protected future pick, etc),&#8221; Joe Lorenzi of The Athletic said on X. &#8220;They got Gueye on an end-of-season, non-guaranteed deal in April, and they get Claxton without digging into assets.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Minnesota Timberwolves Trade Grade: D-<\/h3>\n<p>Granted, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/timberwolves\/\" target=\"_self\">Minnesota<\/a>&#8216;s main goal in this trade was to save cap space. But the Wolves gave up a lot, though they did create a massive trade exception of about $31 million. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/reidna01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Naz Reid<\/a> is expected to replace Randle in the starting lineup. It will be the first time that Reid, who has finished in the top 5 in 6-Man of the Year voting the past three seasons, is a full-time starter.<\/p>\n<p>By trading Randle, the Wolves moved below the cap threshold. But after agreeing to an extension with <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/dosunay01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ayo Dosunmu<\/a> on a five-year, $112 million deal, they project to be about $21 million below the luxury tax threshold. Dosunmu is slated to earn about $19.3 million in 2026-27.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Free agent guard Ayo Dosunmu intends to sign a five-year, $112 million contract to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, with a player option in the fifth season, sources tell ESPN. Timberwolves made it a major priority to lock in Dosunmu after his tremendous postseason. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xw93nAUhJt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/xw93nAUhJt<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ShamsCharania\/status\/2069265226889904549?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 23, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Minnesota has 11 players under contract for 2026-27, though Julian Phillips has a $2.4 million club option. The Timberwolves also own the No. 59 draft pick in 2026.<\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0Photo Credit: Jesse Johnson, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a surprising move, the Brooklyn Nets hooked up with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls for a three-team trade that centers around Julius Randle. The trade won&#8217;t be official until the start of the 2026 NBA fiscal year. According to ESPN&#8217;s Shams Charania, Randle is headed to Brooklyn along with the No. 28 pick [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3146,"featured_media":201734,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,6,8,2,21,62,556,12,3],"tags":[3967,510,1223,1382,4581],"class_list":["post-201726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-nets","category-bulls","category-featured","category-timberwolves","category-nba","category-nba-draft","category-knicks","category-news","tag-ayo-dosunmu","tag-julius-randle","tag-michael-porter-jr","tag-nba-trade","tag-nic-claxton"],"modified_by":"Daniel Benjamin, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201726","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3146"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=201726"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201726\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":201739,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201726\/revisions\/201739"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/201734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=201726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=201726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=201726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}