The Minnesota Timberwolves traded forward Julius Randle and the 28th overall pick to the Brooklyn Nets. Randle averaged 20.0 points during his two seasons with Minnesota, but he shot only 39 percent during the 2026 playoffs.
What happened?
The Timberwolves will acquire the 33rd overall pick from Brooklyn in the deal. Center Nic Claxton is expected to join the Bulls from Brooklyn.
Why it matters for Minnesota Timberwolves
The biggest takeaway from this move is that it is a full-throated endorsement of the potential of Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid. The two Timberwolves mainstays will now be thrust into more prominent roles than they have ever had since entering the league.
Reid will be full-time starting power forward in Minnesota for the first time in his career, team sources told The Athletic. He is supremely skilled as a shooter and scorer, especially for a person his size.
What comes next?
In salary dumping Randle to Brooklyn, the Wolves clear Randle’s $33 million salary from the books, which will give them all the spending power they need to re-sign guard Ayo Dosunmu. Dosunmu came to Minnesota in a February trade and fit in very well, including a 43-point explosion in the playoffs against Denver.
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 2026-05-16 | Minnesota Timberwolves 109-139 San Antonio Spurs |
The Wolves could not afford to lose him in free agency, given their need for ballhandling guards and the price they paid to get him from Chicago, so this gives them all the breathing room they need to bring him back and add another veteran on the free agent market.
McDaniels now elevates to Anthony Edwards’ co-star. He took major strides on offense in his sixth season, averaging 14.8 points and shooting 41 percent from 3-point range.
Recent form: 1W-0D-4L (LLLLW, most recent first); lost the last 4.
The Wolves will, however, face scrutiny for their asset management. Two years ago, the Wolves traded franchise centerpiece Karl-Anthony Towns to New York for Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick.
Randle was a big part of their playoff victories over the Lakers and Warriors in 2025, but he struggled mightily in this year’s playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs.
Towns is the toast of New York after helping lead the Knicks to their first championship in 53 years, and DiVincenzo likely won’t be available until late next season because of a torn Achilles tendon.
Joan Beringer, the player the Wolves chose with the first-round pick they got from the Knicks, better be good.
The Timberwolves' last result was a 109-139 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on 2026-05-16.
And now the Wolves look to the future with McDaniels and Reid leading the charge.