In a three-team trade, the Minnesota Timberwolves will trade forward Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets, a team source confirmed to The Athletic. Randle averaged 20.0 points during his two seasons with Minnesota, but he shot only 39 percent during the 2026 playoffs. Minnesota will acquire the 33rd overall pick from Brooklyn in the deal. Center Nic Claxton is expected to join the Bulls. ESPN was first to report the deal.Wolves flesh out frontcourtThe biggest takeaway from this move is that it is a full-throated endorsement of the potential of Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid. The two Timberwolves mainstays will now be thrust into more prominent roles than they have ever had since entering the league.Reid will be full-time starting power forward in Minnesota for the first time in his career, team sources told The Athletic. The former Sixth Man of the Year has been a cult hero in the Twin Cities ever since he came into the league as an undrafted rookie in 2019. He is supremely skilled as a shooter and scorer, especially for a person his size. Now he will have to show that he can defend at a high level, night after night. Reid has played well next to Rudy Gobert when given the chance, and his ability to stretch the floor should help the spacing on offense.McDaniels now elevates to Anthony Edwards’ co-star. He took major strides on offense in his sixth season, averaging 14.8 points and shooting 41 percent from 3-point range. He sometimes struggled to find shots with both Edwards and Randle on the floor with him. With Randle now in Brooklyn, McDaniels will slide into that No. 2 role and get a much bigger diet of shooting and playmaking opportunities. He had a breakout series against Denver in the playoffs, but like Reid, the Wolves will be looking for more two-way consistency from him going forward.