<\/p>\n
In case it wasn\u2019t obvious already, the New York Knicks definitely won the trade.<\/p>\n
Julius Randle, who the Knicks traded in 2024 as part of a blockbuster deal to land now championship-winning big man Karl-Anthony Towns, is on the move again. <\/p>\n
Watch live coverage of the 2026 NBA Draft with ESPN on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n This time, Randle has been traded in what is effectively a salary-dump move from Minnesota, with the Timberwolves forward dealt along with the 28th overall pick in Wednesday\u2019s draft to Brooklyn in a three-team deal.<\/p>\n Minnesota acquires Brooklyn\u2019s No. 33 pick for Randle and No. 28 as part of the deal, which also sends Nets big Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls. <\/p>\n The Bulls gave up Mouhamadou Gueye as part of the deal.<\/p>\n According to NBA salary cap analyst Yossi Gozlan, the trade cleared $36 million of Minnesota\u2019s payroll. The Timberwolves now have a $33 million trade exception and are $50 million below the first apron.<\/p>\n As for what it all means, well that became obvious a few hours later as ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania reported Ayo Dosunmu would be signing a five-year, $112 million contract to return to Minnesota after the Timberwolves made it a \u201cmajor priority\u201d to extend him.<\/p>\n As for the Nets, Randle doesn\u2019t exactly fit their timeline as a rebuilding team but the value was there in the deal and he will help them win enough games to avoid getting penalised under the new \u20183-2-1\u2019 lottery system, which penalises the bottom three teams. <\/p>\n Claxton, meanwhile, adds even more length and athleticism to a Bulls team with Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Noa Essengue and potentially Caleb Wilson after Wednesday\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n Shooting remains a question, but it is an intriguing group of players and will be lob city in the front court paired alongside a guard with Giddey\u2019s vision and propensity to push the pace in transition.<\/p>\n It is the second trade of the off-season following Oklahoma City\u2019s deal with Atlanta, with saw Aaron Wiggins shipped off to the Hawks for two second-round picks.<\/p>\n NBA DRAFT PRIMER: How blockbuster trade could rock NBA draft as Giddey linked to rival teams<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n