There was a three-way trade in the National Basketball Association on Monday. Just hours before Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Miami Heat in one of the biggest trades in recent memory, there was a three-way trade between the Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets.
The Timberwolves have traded power forward Julius Randle of Dallas, Texas to the Brooklyn Nets. Brooklyn is also receiving Minnesota’s first round pick (28th overall) in the 2026 NBA Draft, which takes place on Tuesday. Center Nic Claxton of Greenville, South Carolina is moving from the Nets to the Bulls, and the Nets are trading a second round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft (33rd overall) to the Timberwolves. It is very interesting that the Bulls are picking up a player in the trade without having to give up a player or a draft pick.
Randle is joining his fifth NBA franchise. He was previously with the Los Angeles Lakers for four seasons from 2014 to 2018, the New Orleans Pelicans for one season from 2018 to 2019, the New York Knicks for five seasons from 2019 to 2024, and the Minnesota Timberwolves for two seasons from 2024 to 2026. Randle is a three-time NBA All-Star (2021, 2023 and 2024 with New York), and was the NBA’s most improved player with the Knicks in 2020-21.
In 2025-26 with the Timberwolves, Randle averaged 21.1 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game, five assists per game, and 1.1 steals per game. He had a field goal percentage of .481, three point percentage of .315, and a free throw percentage of .802.
Claxton has spent the last seven seasons playing for the Nets. Known for his field goal shooting, he led the NBA in field goal percentage (.705) in 2022-23. During the 2025-26 season, Claxton averaged 11.7 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game, 3.7 assists per game and 1.1 blocks per game. He had a field goal percentage of .571, three point percentage of .158, and free throw percentage of .616.
