The Minnesota Timberwolves finally pulled the trigger on a Julius Randle trade, sending him to Brooklyn in a three-team deal that also involved the Chicago Bulls. Randle and the No. 28 pick in this week’s NBA Draft went to the Nets. Minnesota got back Brooklyn’s No. 33 pick, and the Bulls landed center Nic Claxton.
Randle’s departure ended weeks of chatter about his future in Minnesota. But the guy who probably felt it most was Jaden McDaniels, his frontcourt running mate for the past two seasons. McDaniels was on vacation when somebody told him Randle was heading to the Nets. His reaction said it all.
“Oh, that’s crazy,” McDaniels said, pulling out his phone to check the news for himself.
The video clip posted by Matt Kellner shows McDaniels genuinely surprised. Which makes sense. He and Randle had built a real bond playing alongside Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid. Losing a teammate you grind with every day hits different, especially when you find out on a beach somewhere.
What the Deal Actually Means
Randle put up 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.1 steals this season. That’s production the Timberwolves are now choosing to move on from. The Nets weren’t really on anyone’s radar as a landing spot, but they get a versatile forward who can score and facilitate.
For Minnesota, this clears cap space and adds a draft asset. The Bulls, meanwhile, pick up Claxton, a young, mobile big man who fits their defensive identity. It’s the kind of trade where every team involved thinks they got what they needed.
McDaniels wasn’t the only one caught off guard. Fans online pointed out that Randle’s name hadn’t been linked to Brooklyn in any serious rumors before this week. The Timberwolves front office kept this one quiet until it was done.
Next Steps for All Three Teams
Brooklyn now has Randle under contract for another season, with an option after that. The Nets will likely build around him and their young core. Minnesota gets a little more financial flexibility and a pick that could turn into something useful. And Chicago adds Claxton to a frontcourt that needed fresh legs.
As for McDaniels, he’ll be back in the gym soon enough, figuring out the new normal without his guy Randle on the wing. That’s just how the NBA works. One day you’re on vacation. The next day your teammate is gone.
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