Wolves, Nets and Bulls complete three-team trade

The Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls have finalised a complex three-team transaction less than 24 hours before the commencement of the 2026 NBA Draft. The deal, reported by ESPN on Monday night, sees the Timberwolves dispatch three-time All-Star Julius Randle and the No. 28 overall pick in the upcoming draft to the Nets. In return, Minnesota receives the No. 33 draft selection, while the Nets send centre Nic Claxton to the Bulls.

The primary driver for the transaction was financial flexibility for the Timberwolves, who sought to avoid the NBA’s second apron threshold to preserve roster-building tools. By clearing the remaining two years of Randle’s contract, Minnesota avoided crossing the first apron, which is projected to sit around $209 million. This decision preserved the team’s access to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception and other assets. Consequently, the Wolves created a $33.33 million traded-player exception, which they can utilise to acquire a player in a subsequent trade.

Following the trade, Ayo Dosunmu reportedly agreed to a five-year, $112 million contract with Minnesota. The move also places the Timberwolves $63 million under the second apron, $50 million under the first apron and $43 million under the tax. Naz Reid is expected to move into the starting lineup, replacing Randle, who averaged 20 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists over his two seasons in Minnesota but struggled in recent playoff appearances against San Antonio and Oklahoma City.

The Nets acquired Randle to bolster competitiveness, potentially targeting a Play-In Tournament spot alongside Michael Porter Jr. While the team retains significant cap space, the acquisition of an established scorer addresses a need for stability in a franchise that has recorded losing records in each of the last three seasons. The Nets also secured the No. 28 pick, moving up from their original No. 33 selection, while parting with Claxton, who has spent his entire career in Brooklyn.

The Chicago Bulls absorbed Claxton’s contract into their cap space as part of a broader roster rebuild under new leadership, including head coach Tiago Splitter and executive vice president Bryson Graham. The Bulls, who recently hired Splitter and Graham after cleaning house in the front office, have $32.5 million in remaining cap space. Claxton, who averaged 11.7 points and 6.9 rebounds last season, is viewed as a solid defensive-minded big man who could benefit from playing alongside high-level playmakers such as Josh Giddey.