In a surprise late-night jolt ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft, the Brooklyn Nets acquired veteran forward Julius Randle in a three-team deal that shuffles depth charts in Minnesota and Chicago. Dropping right into draft week, the trade instantly reshapes Brooklyn’s frontcourt as teams scramble to finish roster planning. As reports ricocheted online, team officials had not yet posted an official confirmation.
According to reports, Minnesota sent Randle and the No. 28 pick to Brooklyn, Brooklyn shipped center Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls, and the Timberwolves received Brooklyn’s No. 33 pick in return. The initial scoop was posted by Shams Charania, and the move is further detailed by the New York Post. The official terms will not be fully locked in until league paperwork is finalized and the NBA transaction log is updated.
Randle’s path to Brooklyn
Randle, a high-usage scoring forward who previously spent five seasons with the New York Knicks, was dealt to Minnesota in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade two years ago. The Towns-for-Randle blockbuster and the roster fallout that followed were tracked on the league site, which chronicled the subsequent lineup shuffling. Bringing Randle back to New York, this time in black and white instead of orange and blue, gives Brooklyn a veteran scoring and playmaking presence, although how long he stays in a Nets uniform remains an open question for the front office.
What Brooklyn gets
Brooklyn adds a proven interior scorer and pick-and-roll creator who can function as a primary or secondary option, which changes how the Nets can structure their half-court offense. Analysts had already highlighted Brooklyn’s offseason flexibility and draft assets, and this deal signals a willingness to lean into a blend of seasoned scoring and younger talent, according to broader roster analysis at ESPN. The coaching staff will now have to rejigger minutes and roles around Randle’s usage and skill set.
What Minnesota and Chicago get
The Timberwolves appear to have moved on from Randle in an effort to clear salary and tweak their draft positioning, dropping from No. 28 into the early second round at No. 33. Chicago, meanwhile, reportedly picks up Nic Claxton, a mobile rim protector who plugs an obvious defensive hole in the Bulls’ frontcourt. Taken together, the three-way deal shapes up as a cap and roster management maneuver for Minnesota and a win-now defensive upgrade for Chicago, according to coverage by the New York Post.
Expect formal confirmations and transaction entries from the teams and the league once the paperwork is processed ahead of draft night. For Nets fans, every mock draft and free agency scenario just got a new wrinkle, with an experienced, high-usage frontcourt piece suddenly in the middle of the picture.
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