The Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off a trade that left more than a few fans scratching their heads. They sent Julius Randle and the 28th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to the Brooklyn Nets for the 33rd pick. The Chicago Bulls also got involved somewhere in there.
On paper, the Timberwolves got worse. They gave up a first rounder in a draft that scouts keep calling loaded. And they got next to nothing back for a starting power forward who could create shots and bring some physicality. Randle wasn’t perfect, but he was one of the few guys on that roster who could dribble into a play when Anthony Edwards wasn’t doing it himself.
But this was always about money. The front office quickly locked up Ayo Dosunmu on a new deal after the trade went through. That also opened up room to bring back Bones Hyland and Jaylen Clark. And the $33 million trade exception Minnesota generated? That’s the part that has people talking. Tim Connelly doesn’t make a move like that without a second one in the chamber.
If the Randle deal was just to clear cap space for Dosunmu, that’s a bad trade. But if it sets up something bigger, then you can’t really blame them for it. The question is what comes next.
What the Timberwolves Need Most
Point guard was the team’s biggest hole last season. Dosunmu can play there in a pinch, but he’s really a shooting guard. And with Randle gone, the need for someone who can create offense is even more obvious. Randle was a frontcourt guy, but he could handle the ball and make things happen. They just don’t have that now outside of Edwards.
Ja Morant has been one of the best point guards in the league when he’s healthy and available. But the Memphis Grizzlies have been selling off pieces. They traded Desmond Bane. They traded Jaren Jackson Jr. The rebuild is happening. And Morant’s off-the-court issues plus his injury history have made him less of a centerpiece in Memphis.
The Trade That Makes Sense
Minnesota sends: a 2033 first-round pick, Terrence Shannon Jr., Joan Beringer, and a 2028 first-round swap option. They get back: Ja Morant and GG Jackson.
Most superstar trades these days cost a mountain of picks and prospects. But Morant’s stock has dropped. There isn’t exactly a long line of teams offering max packages for him. The Timberwolves don’t have a ton of assets to throw around, but they might not need to. A single future first and two recent top-30 picks could be enough if Memphis is ready to move on.
The fit is obvious. Morant and Edwards together would be a nightmare for rim protectors around the league. Both guys can get to the basket at will. And with Dosunmu locked in, Rudy Gobert still anchoring the paint, and Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid filling out the rotation, that’s a real team.
Would Memphis Actually Do This?
Probably not if they think they can get a better offer later. They’ve been patient with Morant through all the drama. But they’ve also already committed to a rebuild. And the trade exception Minnesota created from the Randle deal means the Grizzlies could take on Morant’s contract without absorbing a ton of extra salary. They could just take the picks and the rookies. Beringer has real rim protection potential. Shannon was already playing playoff minutes in his second year.
It’s a long shot. Memphis has turned down better offers before. But if they decide it’s time to fully hit reset, Connelly will be on the phone before anyone else can dial.
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