Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks walks to the Bench during the fourth quarter.
The Greek Freak is taking his talents to South Beach.
The Bucks traded Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat in a blockbuster trade late Monday, according to ESPN, ending hours of speculation with Miami and the Celtics emerging as the finalists.
The Bucks also sent Bobby Portis to Miami in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, along with the No. 13 pick in tonight’s draft, a 2033 second-round pick and a pick swap in 2030, according to ESPN.
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks walks to the Bench during the fourth quarter. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
It has been long speculated that Antetokounmpo’s time in Milwaukee was coming to an end, with drama between both parties occurring throughout the 2025-26 NBA season.
Despite it looking like the Bucks were going to move on from the 10-time All-Star ahead of the trade deadline, they were ultimately unsuccessful in engaging in trade talks in February.
Antetokounmpo reportedly first expressed wanting to be traded last May, which then prompted Milwaukee to give big man Myles Turner a $108.7 million deal in an attempt to build a contending team for this past season.
Things did not work out, however, with the Bucks finishing with a 32-50 record and their first year missing the postseason in a decade.
Antetokounmpo played just 36 games last year, averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists while being sidelined with knee problems for the majority of the season. ]
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the first quarter. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
His injury was also a source of concern for the NBA, with the league investigating the Bucks for allegedly violating the “player participation policy and potential inconsistent statements.”
Despite Antetokounmpo claiming that he was ready to play again, the Bucks refused to medically clear the two-time MVP.
“For somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete it’s like a slap in my face. So, I don’t know where the relationship goes from there,” he told reporters in April.
“I’ve never seen a case of a player saying, my caliber of player, that’s like, I’m saying it publicly, I want to f–king play. You know what I’m saying?” he added. “I don’t think I’ve seen this. So, if there needs to be an investigation, great.
“There should be. I don’t know. There should be. Until we figure something out.”
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - 2026/06/07: Giannis Antetokounmpo NBA player seen during the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco 2026 at Circuit de Monaco. (Photo by Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
It’s official. The Milwaukee Bucks have officially ended the Giannis Antetokounmpo era by trading him to the Miami Heat. ESPN insider Shams Charania was the first to report the news.
BLOCKBUSTER: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, 3 first-round picks (including No. 13), 1 pick swap and 1 second-rounder, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/NQT5ZhdJU9
The Bucks waffled back and forth between the Heat and Boston Celtics on possible deals, but ultimately decided to go with Miami’s offer. The Celtics could have sent a package headlined by Jaylen Brown, but it appears that the Bucks preferred the route that featured several players that could truly kickstart their rebuild.
It’s definitely a sad day for the Bucks organization as they say goodbye to their franchise icon of 13 years, but after winning just 32 games and missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade this past season, it was time to move on.
During his 13 years with the Bucks, Antetokounmpo led the franchise to 10 playoff appearances. He helped the Bucks reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2019 after winning his first league MVP award. Two years later, his defining moment came when he led the Bucks to their first NBA championship in 50 years. The following year, the Bucks reached the second round of the playoffs, marking the last time Milwaukee won a playoff series.
The Bucks now have a chance to start fresh with an organic rebuild as they look to try and find the right pieces that can build a contender once again in Milwaukee.
Brew Hoop community, let us know your thoughts on the trade. How do you feel now that it is official? Chime off in the comments section below.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 12: Ayo Dosunmu #13 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on May 12, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves are saying goodbye to Julius Randle after sending him to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team trade with the Chicago Bulls.
They are also opening the door for point guard Ayo Dosunmu to make himself a long-term piece of the puzzle with the Wolves. According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, Dosunmu is set to sign a five-year deal with the Wolves.
“Free agent guard Ayo Dosunmu intends to sign a five-year, $112 million contract to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, with a player option in the fifth season, sources tell ESPN. Timberwolves made it a major priority to lock in Dosunmu after his tremendous postseason,” Charania tweeted.
Free agent guard Ayo Dosunmu intends to sign a five-year, $112 million contract to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, with a player option in the fifth season, sources tell ESPN. Timberwolves made it a major priority to lock in Dosunmu after his tremendous postseason. pic.twitter.com/xw93nAUhJt
Dosunmu was expected to have a lot of interest in free agency, but the Wolves wanted to bring him back into the fold, even if it meant trading Randle. The Wolves now have their point guard of the future that can play alongside Anthony Edwards in the backcourt.
In 24 games with Minnesota last season, Dosunmu averaged 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 41.4 percent from beyond the three-point line. The hope is that his numbers can grow with a full year in Minneapolis working with Chris Finch and the coaching staff over the course of the offseason.
Canis Hoopus community, what do you make of Dosunmu’s new contract extension? Should he have been paid more or less, or is his value exactly where it’s supposed to be? Let us know in the comments section below.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 23: Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves draws a foul against Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks in the fourth quarter at Target Center on December 23, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Knicks 115-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
According to reports, the Timberwolves have traded OAKAAKUYOAK Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for the No. 33 pick, effectively paying Brooklyn to absorb Randle’s contract. As part of the three-team trade, Nic Claxton is going to the Chicago Bulls.
Just in: Minnesota is sending Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick in the NBA Draft to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team trade that sends Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls, sources tell ESPN. The Timberwolves will acquire Brooklyn’s No. 33 pick for Randle and No. 28. pic.twitter.com/TvADMMNDlg
Minnesota attached a first-round pick to move off Randle’s salary, creating additional financial flexibility while elevating Naz Reid into a full-time starting role and opening space to re-sign Ayo Dosunmu.
Brooklyn, meanwhile, takes on a two-time All-NBA forward and moves up five spots in the draft, essentially purchasing a late first-round pick with cap space.
Randle is currently playing under a three-year, $100 million contract extension that he signed in July 2025. The deal pays him a base salary of $33,333,334 for the upcoming 2026-27 season and carries a $35,802,468 player option for the 2027-28 campaign, after which he is set to become an unrestricted free agent.
Randle will almost certainly make the Nets more competitive on random Tuesday nights in January. He’s still capable of piling up points, rebounds, and assists when the offense runs through him. But at 31 years old, he doesn’t rocket Brooklyn into a playoff threat, especially after attaching a first-round asset simply to acquire him.
The bigger takeaway is draft positioning. Brooklyn now owns another first-round selection in a talented class, giving the organization another opportunity to add a young contributor or package picks in a future deal.
There’s also the irony of it all. The player once traded for Karl-Anthony Towns has now been moved as a salary dump with a first-round pick attached. Randle remains a productive regular-season player and will always have a place in Knicks history after helping lead the franchise back to relevance, but his market clearly isn’t robust.
Claxton spent the first seven seasons of his NBA career as an anchor for the Brooklyn Nets after being selected 31st overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. The 6’11” center transformed from a raw second-round prospect into a versatile defensive stopper, culminating in a 2022–23 campaign where he led the league in field goal percentage (70.5%) and finished ninth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He is two years into the four-year, $100 million contract extension he signed in 2024.
We’ll always be grateful to Randle for coming to New York in 2019 when no stars were willing to. He endured a 21-45 season before Leon Rose and Tom Thibodeau took the reins. Julius remains a bull and will surely treat the fans at Barclays to a few 38-point triple-doubles. Will he elevate the Nets to a playoff team? Probably not.
Julius Randle may have missed the parade, but he’s returning to New York City. As a member of the Brooklyn Nets, that is.
On Monday evening, NetsDaily welcomedall to the “Sean Marks Trade Zone,” now that there are under 24 hours to go until the NBA Draft. As we noted: “Nine years out the 10 he’s been GM, with the exception of 2022, Marks has made at least one move in said zone.”
One hour later, Shams Charania of ESPN broke the news that the Brooklyn Nets had traded for Julius Randle in a three-team deal that send Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls…
Just in: Minnesota is sending Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick in the NBA Draft to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team trade that sends Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls, sources tell ESPN. The Timberwolves will acquire Brooklyn’s No. 33 pick for Randle and No. 28. pic.twitter.com/TvADMMNDlg
— The Minnesota Timberwolves clear cap space to sign shooting guard Ayo Dosunmu (which they did to the tune of $112 million over five later in the evening), and a starting role for Naz Reid. They also acquired Mouhamadou Gueye, a second year player who’s on a non-guaranteed deal, and generated a $33.3 million trade exception good for a year.
— The Chicago Bulls receive a functional center for nothing other than the cost of his slightly overpriced $22 million annual salary.
— The Brooklyn Nets receive a three-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection making about $69 million over the next two seasons, or just over 20% of the cap. Put plainly: The Brooklyn Nets just paid $27 million over the next two seasons to replace Claxton with Randle. They also got a second first round pick, the No. 28, from the Timberwolves.
Randle will turn 32 years old in November, and just averaged 21/7/5 in his second and final season with the Wolves, during which there was noise about his fit (or lack thereof) in the locker room. With the Nets, Randle gets to return to New York City, where he wore a Knick uniform for five seasons, and attempt to help lead the Nets toward a playoff spot.
The pick the Nets acquired is the result of an exchange of first and a second rounders five places apart: Brooklyn gets the No. 28 pick from Minnesota in return for the #33 pick. As of Monday evening, the Nets currently own the Nos. 6, 28, and 43 picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, which begins on Tuesday evening. Minnesota likely agreed to swap picks as a cost-cutting maneuver; the financial difference between any first-rounder and second-rounder, even just five spots apart, is significant. The 28th pick will make a guaranteed $3 million next season. The second rounder carries no such guarantee. Currently, the Nets are looking at eight players making $38.1 million on rookie deals next season, namely the Flatbush 5, Noah Clowney plus the two firsts.
Yossi Gozlan of the Third Apron laid out the Nets financial situation following the trade…
The Nets increase their payroll by $13 million by trading Nic Claxton for Julius Randle and #28.
They have $20.2 million in room remaining and the $9.4 million room mid-level to spend after.
They now have 15 first-round picks through 2033, including two selections tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/gkssN205t5
The cap figure could go up if, as expected, the Nets do not exercise their team options on Day’ron Sharpe, Ziaire Williams, Josh Minott and Malachi Smith.
As for the Nets going into the Draft, the trade doesn’t necessarily mark the end of their activity in the trade market. They could use the No 28 pick (in conjunction with the 43rd pick and/or of the 10 tradeable firsts they have) to continue moving up in the first round. The trade won’t be finalized for a couple weeks.
Nic Claxton was the No. 31 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and was the only Net to witness the entire rise and fall of the squad. The Clean Sweep signing, the Steve Nash experience, both James Harden trades, the arrival and departure of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, his own leap and subsequent decline, the tanking years, all of it.
One NBA decision-maker said that the trade could be a needed tonic for Claxton. “Claxton looks so disinterested,” the executive told ND. “Needs a new home. Too much losing impacts his mentality. Will be better somewhere else. “
Now, he’s a Chicago Bull. Time flies.
Randle on the other hand is on his fifth NBA team after being drafted by the Lakers in 2014. He played four years in Los Angeles, one in New Orleans, five in New York and the last two in Minnesota. His most productive seasons in terms of individual stats came with the Knicks where over his tenure he put up better 22 points a game, grabbed nearly 1o boards and nearly five assists, winning the Most Improved Player award in 2021. But the Knicks did not win and Leon Rose sent him to Minnesota in a blockbuster trade that brought Karl-Anthony Towns to MSG. We know how that worked out.
One fan who might need some explaining is Randle’s young son Kyden who was famously depicted exiting Barclays Center in tears back in 2021 after his father’s Knicks lost to the Nets. “I hate them,” Kyden told his mother, pointing at a sign featuring Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden…
According to ESPN, Randle and Minnesota’s No. 28 selection in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft are headed to Brooklyn for the No. 33 pick — tantamount to a salary dump — while the Nets are shipping center Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls.
By trading Randle, the Timberwolves are unloading his $33.3 million salary next season, leaving space for Minnesota to fill out its roster.
Guard Ayo Dosunmu, who emerged as an offensive force for the Timberwolves in the playoffs, is set to become an unrestricted free agent once the new league year begins, and the Timberwolves have already made an offer to retain their new star with a five-year contract after they acquired him before the February trading deadline.
Randle, who has spent the past two seasons in Minnesota after being traded from the New York Knicks as part of the Karl-Anthony Towns blockbuster deal, also has a player option for 2027-28, worth $35.8 million. The 31-year-old averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5 assists and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 48.1% from the field in 79 games this past season.
The Nets, who have abundant cap space, add another veteran into their program, and the Bulls shore up their front court after they traded Nikola Vučević in February.
Dosunmu agrees to return to Minnesota on 5-year deal
Free agent guard Ayo Dosunmu intends to sign a five-year, $112 million contract to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, with a player option in the fifth season, ESPN reported late Monday night.
Free agent guard Ayo Dosunmu intends to sign a five-year, $112 million contract to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, with a player option in the fifth season, sources tell ESPN. Timberwolves made it a major priority to lock in Dosunmu after his tremendous postseason. pic.twitter.com/xw93nAUhJt
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 12: Julius Randle of Timberwolves warms up before the NBA Playoffs game 4 between Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on May 12, 2025 in San Francisco, California, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
One of the first trade dominos dropped Monday evening, but it wasn’t what everyone was waiting for. Well, everyone outside of Minnesota at least. ESPN‘s Shams Charania announced that the Timberwolves are salary dumping Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets, attaching pick number 28 in tomorrow’s draft in order to do so.
The loss of Randle was to be expected.
It was speculated that after his name was included in trade rumors for Giannis Antetokounmpo last February, he had somewhat checked out. It was evident in his play to end the regular season, and even more so in the postseason. If it wasn’t clear that his days in Minnesota were numbered by then, he skipped exit interviews altogether.
The “return” that Minnesota’s President of Basketball Operations, Tim Connelly, for being able to ship out Randle might seem lackluster at first. No matter what your opinion is of Randle and his final months in a Wolves jersey, this is still a multi-time All-NBA and All-Star player who is in the middle of his prime. He had a huge hand in defeating both the Lakers and Warriors during the Wolves 2025 playoff run. Next year, bottom-feeding teams hoping to avoid the “relegation zone” will enjoy the extra regular season wins that the 31-year-old will likely bring. He is set to make a somewhat modest 20% of the salary cap this upcoming year, as well as a player option for the same amount in the 2027-2028 season.
Having to attach a late first round pick doesn’t look great for a guy who was the featured return for recent NBA champion, Karl-Anthony Towns.
That said, it is clear as day that Randle’s fit with this iteration of the Timberwolves had been clunky, and somehow became even clunkier. His lack of consistent effort and focus on the defensive end, as well as his tunnel-vision style of offense, has been maddening for Minnesota fans to watch. He was rendered useless in the final playoff series for the Wolves the last two years. Being able to shed his salary to gear up for bigger moves has to be considered a win.
Minnesota does acquire the 33rd pick of the draft (second round taking place on Wednesday), and that should be of note as well. Will Connelly just send it away for another seven-foot giant, future seconds and cash considerations like he did with the 31st pick last year? Or will he draft a future three-time MVP? 50-50, I’d say.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 25: Ayo Dosunmu #13 and Naz Reid #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrate the win against the Denver Nuggets after Game Four of the First Round of the 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on April 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This now sets the stage for the Wolves to have lots of wiggle room to handle the negotiation of unrestricted free agent, Ayo Dosunmu. A player who Connelly publicly announced as their highest priority this summer. Perhaps most exciting will be the fact that Naz Reid‘s time as a bench player has finally come to an end. Unless the Wolves make another dramatic move this summer, the former Sixth Man of the Year will finally be able to take center stage along with the core of Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels.
It’s thrilling to think about what Minnesota will look like now. Reid isn’t without his own flaws, especially on the defensive end. However, advanced metrics has long been favorable to the pairing of Reid and Gobert for multiple seasons now. The Wolves will inevitably be playing with more offensive pace as well.
Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks the ball during the Bucks' November 2025 game against the Knicks.
As trade rumors continued to swirl, Giannis Antetokounmpo took to social media Monday night.
The NBA superstar posted a cryptic message on X, along with a black-and-white photo of himself walking off the court in a Bucks jersey.
“GOD, I trusted you at the beginning, and I will continue to trust you throughout,” he wrote on the social media platform, with a praying hands emoji and a 100 emoji.
GOD, I trusted you at the beginning, and I will continue to trust you throughout. pic.twitter.com/BuRHnQS2NQ
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) June 22, 2026
Antetokounmpo is expected to be traded by the Bucks before the NBA draft begins on Tuesday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Things have heated up recently, with the Heat and the Celtics emerging as finalists for Antetokounmpo, according to ESPN.
Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks the ball during the Bucks’ November 2025 game against the Knicks. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
The Celtics are reportedly centering their offer around star Jaylen Brown, and the Heat’s offer includes plenty of draft capital, with Miami holding the No. 13 pick in this year’s draft.
Both teams are among Antetokounmpo’s preferred destinations if he’s traded from the Bucks.
Brown appeared to break his silence on the trade speculation during a Twitch livestream.
“To all the people that’s doubted me, that want me to do this, or want me [traded], you’re turning me into a monster,” Brown said during the stream.
Giannis Antetokounmpo drives to the basket during the Bucks’ November 2025 game against the Knicks. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
The saga involving Antetokounmpo has been going on for some time, and it may finally come to an end after a bizarre season for the Bucks, which was overshadowed by questions about the 31-year-old’s future in Milwaukee.
The team finished 32-50, and Antetokounmpo played a mere 36 games due to issues with his groin, calf and knees.
The relationship between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks clearly became fractured during the course of the season.
Trade speculation started in May 2025 and now has led to Antetokounmpo being on the verge of ending a 13-season run in Milwaukee, where he helped the franchise win an NBA title in 2021 and owns every major franchise statistical record.
Mar 2, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) shoots during pregame warmups before a game against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
With the draft looming, trade rumours are flying once again. By the looks of things, Milwaukee may be the first team to start an “everything must go” sale. After an underwhelming season that ended 11 games behind even play-in contention, the era of Giannis in the Cream City could very well be over.
If he departs, it’s likely the Bucks will try to unload as many older players as they can, starting their rebuild with a stockpile of assets. Picks, young players, and space in the salary book will be at a premium for them.
Inevitably, other teams are now waiting to see what they can scavenge from this roster to bolster their own. The good news is Toronto might be one of those teams.
Toronto’s need at center was made abundantly clear with a first round exit caused by Jarrett Allen who put Cleveland on his back in game 7. Who better than to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Allen and the league’s other big men than Myles Turner?
Myles is 11 years into his career. He’s pretty solid, playing at least 60 games every season except for two. In his best year, he averaged almost 18 points and 8 rebounds with over 2 blocks a game. He’s a great 3-point shooter, cashing in over 38% on 5.4 attempts per game last season. He’s also a good rim protector and lob threat, and moves well in pick and roll situations:
MYLES TURNER UNLOADS WITH TWO HANDS 😳
🏀 Pacers/Bucks on ESPN 🏆 Winner advances to Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/9ZFVCMP1qr
His stint in Milwaukee didn’t do him any favors, as he dropped across pretty much every statistical category in his sole year there. Largely due to the players he had around him and lower usage, but he definitely didn’t look like he did with the pacers, especially with a polished guard like Tyrese Haliburton setting him up.
He fits our timeline, would have solid guards to set him up, and would likely fill one of the most significant gaps that currently exists. The real question is what we have to offer to Milwaukee. Turner is owed almost 84 million over the next three years, so matching it while still providing value is the biggest hurdle.
Trade Proposal: Jakob Poeltl, Gradey Dick, and a first round pick
Poeltl needs to be a part of the deal to match salary. He’s solid, but his contract isn’t and he doesn’t match the timeline for the Bucks at all. A straight one-to-one doesn’t make sense for Milwaukee. He could be moved, but there isn’t really anyone in the league that would want him for the money he’s being paid.
Gradey’s year hurt his stock badly, and while it’s more than possible he could bounce back from this, especially with the lack of opportunity he had this year, he is young and fits the timeline and could develop into a solid piece.
Still, not the most alluring for the Bucks.
Hence the pick. Mikal Bridges pulled five first rounders (but they got a championship so honestly who cares). Harden garnered three, and Gobert was four. Myles is not the caliber of some of those guys, so I would hope one would be the most we’d have to part with. Ideally, it’s next year’s pick though so Toronto is able to shore up other needs in the draft tomorrow.
Only time will tell, but this would definitely be a step in the right direction for the Raptors.
Julius Randle was traded to the Nets on Monday night.
The Nets — who always seem to deal right before draft night — have been looking to add a second first-round pick and another veteran scorer. They pulled off both, landing Julius Randle and the 28th pick for Nic Claxton and No. 33 in a three-team swap.
The Nets — one of the few teams in the league with ample cap space — used it to acquire Randle, a two-time All-NBA forward and three-time All-Star. They also moved up from the top of the second round into the bottom of the first in a loaded draft, and potentially opened a starting spot for Day’Ron Sharpe.
GM Sean Marks shipped Claxton to Chicago, and since the Bulls are acquiring the center with cap space, the deal — first reported by ESPN and confirmed by The Post — can’t be finalized until July 6. The Nets will keep the No. 6 overall pick — likely to be used on a lead guard — and also have Nos. 28 and 43.
Julius Randle was traded to the Nets on Monday night. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The 6-foot-9, 250-pound Randle was just one year into a three-year, $100 million deal with Minnesota, but the Timberwolves were desperate to free up cap space to re-sign guard Ayo Dosunmu (and a starting spot for Naz Reid). Now the former Knick — who spent five years in the Garden — comes back to New York.
Michael Porter Jr. shouldered the burden of being Brooklyn’s lone reliable scorer last season. Randle averaged 21.1 points and 6.7 rebounds in 79 games.
With Randle earning $33.3 million this season and having a player option of $35.8 million next season, Brooklyn increased its payroll by $13 million. They’ll still maintain $20.2 million in room left, per cap guru Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron, and have the $9.4 million room mid-level to spend afterward.
Brooklyn now has 15 first-round picks through 2033, including two Tuesday.
Two among Louisville’s Mikel Brown, Illinois’ Keaton Wagler and Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. should still be on the board at No. 6. But with Wagler likely to be off the board, Brown — with deep range, an elite passing bag and a risk-taking mentality that must get reined in — has had at least three meetings and one workout with the Nets.
“Yeah, it’s definitely a relationship built there,” Brown said. “Talking with them constantly, with Mr. Marks and Coach Jordi [Fernández], the biggest thing that he emphasized — if I get selected to go there — is building that relationship with Jordi.
Nic Claxton of the Brooklyn Nets drives down court during the first half when the Nets played the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday, February 24, 2026 Robert Sabo for NY Post
“At the end of the day, you’ve got to have a great connection from point guard to point guard. [Fernández] played point guard as well. So to be able to pick his brain on a lot of things and learn his system and to be able to come in and make an impact right away was big.”
Ex-Nets assistant GM Bobby Marks — now an ESPN insider — told The Post that taking three first-round guards last year shouldn’t deter them from taking another, because that’s where the value sits at No. 6. He also said they might be best suited using cap space in trades rather than signings, and that’s exactly what they did.
Acuff has both visited with and worked out for the Nets and is the most polished offensive guard in the class, but his defense is a concern. Wagler worked out for the Bulls (who have the fourth pick) and the Clippers (who’ll select fifth), then canceled a scheduled workout for Brooklyn.
Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Round Two Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 15, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NBAE via Getty Images
“Just hearing from them and kind of just knowing where I stood, I kind of knew I didn’t need to work out,” said Wagler.
Brown said he would be excited to land with the Nets.
“It’d mean a lot. Big city. It’s the big city, bright lights. A lot of big-time names come out of Brooklyn, so to be able to represent that means a lot,” said Brown.
“I would handle it. I’m very calm and down to earth. I’m about this basketball stuff. I keep the main thing the main thing. The focus is to try to win a championship.”
St. John’s star Zuby Ejiofor, Texas wing Dailyn Swain or Houston forward Chris Cenac Jr. — who said of joining the Nets, “I think it would be great, I love New York City” — could be targets at No. 28.
The Nets are acquiring Julius Randle from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a three-team trade that will see Brooklyn send Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls.
The deal, as first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania, will see Brooklyn send a second-round pick (No. 33 overall) in Tuesday's NBA Draft to Minnesota, in exchange for Randle and a first-round selection (No. 28 overall).
The Nets will send Claxton to Chicago, who will use cap space to add the center, meaning the deal can not be made official until July 6. The Bulls are also sending Mouhamadou Gueye, a 27-year-old forward out of Staten Island and the University of Pittsburgh, to Minnesota.
Randle, 31, spent the past two seasons in Minnesota after he was acquired in a three-team deal with the Knicks and Hornets that saw Karl-Anthony Towns join New York in late September 2024.
In 79 games last season with the Wolves, Randle averaged 21.1 points on 48.1 percent shooting with 6.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.1 steals in 33 minutes.
He played five seasons with the Knicks, making three All-Star teams and two All-NBA Teams (second in 2021 and third in 2023). He was the league's Most Improved Player in 2021, when he averaged 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists while playing 37.6 minutes.
Claxton, 27, was the 31st overall pick (Round 2) by Brooklyn in the 2019 draft. He appeared in 69 games for the Nets last season and averaged 11.7 points on 57.1 percent shooting with 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 27.8 minutes. In total, Claxton played 380 games (297 starts) with the club over the first seven seasons of his career.
Brooklyn now has two selections to make in the first round, No. 6 and No. 28. Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. and Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr.are seen as possibilities for the first of those two picks. The Nets also have the No. 43 selection for Round 2 on Wednesday.
After the ball got lodged behind the backboard with 8:22 remaining in the first quarter, Haliburton used a Fever court mop to poke it free so play could resume. After successfully completing the task, Haliburton gave a triumphant fist pump as the crowd applauded his efforts.
Haliburton is just returning the favor. Caitlin Clark and several Fever players, including Lexie Hull and Aliyah Boston, attended multiple NBA playoff games in support of the Pacers' run to the 2025 NBA Finals. Haliburton suffered a right Achilles tear in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals and subsequently missed the 2025-26 season.
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.
Oct 29, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets General Manager Sean Marks looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
In the war room where it happens, on the eighth floor of HSS Training Center in Sunset Park, this is crunchtime, and not just for the Draft. Historically, Sean Marks makes most of his trades right around the Draft, not the trade deadline in February … that is, if you don’t count the superstar distress sales sending James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kyrie Irving elsewhere.
So, we have now entered, once again, the “Sean Marks Trade Zone,” the 48-hour window on either side of the Draft when in the past, a lot of has happened in that room. Before Monday night, nine years out the 10 he’s been GM, Marks has made at least one move in said zone: a trade, a signing, etc. Then shortly after 10 p.m. Monday, ET, he did it again. Why is the Draft so popular? Unlike the trade deadline, everyone and everything is available. And there’s a deadline.
Some were small, but a few not so small, like trading the franchise’s leading scorer, Brook Lopez, and the 27th pick, for D’Angelo Russell in 2017, or the 2024 combo of the Mikal Bridges trade with New York, after a 43-year hiatus, and the exchange of picks with the Rockets.
Here’s the record.
2016
On the morning of the Draft, the Nets traded Thaddeus Young to the Pacers for the rights to Caris LeVert and a future second, which became Kessler Edwards in 2021 Draft. Young’s wife at first said she couldn’t believe it, having liked her time in Brooklyn, but then noted it was Woj who broke it.
2017
The Tuesday afternoon before the Thursday night draft, the Nets traded Brook Lopez and the rights to the 27th pick, Kyle Kuzma, to the Lakers for D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov. An extremely unpopular move at the time. Lopez had broken the Nets all-time scoring record on the last night of the season, but the Nets saw the move as “transformative.” D’Lo at the time was 21 years old and a former No. 2 overall pick.
2018
Nets traded Mozgov, two future second rounders and $5 million in cash to the Hornets for Dwight Howard who they waived. At first, it looked like the trade would finally end the “Dwightmare” that had consumed fans and the organization since 2012 when at the last minute the All-NBA center opted out of a trade that would have brought him to New Jersey. Nets saved $17 million in the deal.
2019
On Draft Night, the Nets traded the rights to Mfiondu Kabengele to the Clippers for a first rounder in 2020 and the rights to Jaylen Hands, a salary dump to prepare for the Clean Sweep and the need for cap space to pay KD, Kyrie and D.J. (A couple of weeks earlier, they had traded Allen Crabbe and two firsts, including the 17th pick in 2019, which turned into Nickeil Alexander-Walker, for Taurean Prince and a future second which turned into Marcus Zegarowski. Prince was a good friend of Durant’s.)
2020
The Nets, Pistons and Clippers did a three-team deal broken into two components, one two days before the Draft, the other during the second round on Draft Night. The Nets sent out Dzanan Musa, the rights to Hands, a future second, the rights to Saddiq Bey, getting Bruce Brown, Shamet and the rights to Reggie Perry in return.
2021
Two hours before the Draft, the Nets traded Landry Shamet to the Clippers for Jevon Carter and the 29th pick, giving the Nets two picks late in the first round. The pick was more important than Carter because without it, the Nets would have had to choose between Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe. Instead, they were able to draft both … and the rest, as they say, is history.
2022
The Nets had no picks but the ringer on the mobile phones were set at the highest volume. Brooklyn had no picks in the Draft. There was talk that another team had offered a first rounder for Cam Thomas but the Nets declined. Of course, the big news of the week was the report that Kyrie Irving had given the Nets a list of five teams he’d prefer if he and the Nets couldn’t reach an agreement on an extension. Nothing evolved … then.
2023
This one came a couple of days after the Draft: Cam Johnson, acquired in the February 9 trade that had sent Kevin Durant to Phoenix, agreed to a four-year, $108 million deal, higher than most pundits had expected but more than enough to scare away the competition. A few days later, Marks dispatched Joe Harris and Patty Mills along with three second rounders and big trade exceptions.
2024
It looked like a boring Draft Night. The Brooklyn Nets had no picks in either round of what looked like the worst selection in a quarter century. It was. Then, all of a sudden, things changed… big time. The Nets made two ginormous trades, one with the Knicks that sent Mikal Bridges across the East River to the Knicks, returning five first round picks, a first round swap and a second rounder, and a pick exchange with the Rockets in which the Nets got their 2025 and 2026 first rounders back and the Rockets both picks and swaps. The two were for all intents and purposes, one big deal that saw 10 picks and swaps change hands. It changed the trajectory of the franchise for years.
2025
The night before the Draft, in their first big salary dump of the off-season, the Nets facilitated a deal between the Celtics and the Hawks, the biggest piece being Kristaps Porzingis, and was rewarded with the 22nd pick the next night. The pick became Drake Powell; the cost $1.1 million in cash. The team also acquired Terance Mann and his $47 million, three-year deal. Then between the first and second nights of the Draft, the Nets traded their own second round pick, re-acquired in the Bridges trade, to the Suns for two future seconds, the first of which will be the Nets 43rd pick in Tuesday’s draft. The was later folded into the seven-team trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Rockets.
In 2026? We’ve already seen the three-team trade that will bring Julius Randle to Brooklyn and send Nic Claxton to Chicago. Should we expect more? Of course.
Michigan head coach Dusty May reacts to a play during the first half of the NCAA national championship game against Connecticut at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Monday, April 6, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Michigan head coach Dusty May is leaving the Wolverines and heading to the NBA, becoming the Dallas Mavericks next head coach.
Here are the key takeaways from May’s departure.
Current college basketball climate swayed May’s decision
Matt Norlander of CBS Sports had some enlightening insight into a conversation he had with May back in April. Dealing with agents of transfer portal players and all the NIL dealings presently and the roster turnover that goes along with it are just some of the factors that influenced May heading to the Mavericks. Further, May wanted to test his chops in the NBA.
From CBS Sports
I remember how May stopped texting and looked up from this phone when I asked him: “Do you think you’ll be coaching Michigan in three or four years?”
“No,” he admitted. “I can’t see myself doing this for too much longer.”
By that he meant: running a college basketball program when roster prices were increasing by 300% every year. The constant roster churn, the lack of the NCAA’s institutional control over college basketball, the way the system stole some of the fervor and celebration windows from Michigan’s coaching staff after pulling off one of the best seasons of the past two decades.
May told me he aspired to coach in the NBA someday. He craved to know if he could do it and felt compelled to eventually find out — especially if the state of college basketball was going to be perpetually chaotic. I left him wondering how long it would take for that day to arrive.
Warde Manuel has a habit of losing championship coaches
Jim Harbaugh won a national championship for the football program and then departed for the Los Angeles Chargers after Manuel said a contract was being worked at the podium of the national championship celebration. Manuel then did the same thing after Michigan basketball won the national championship, saying that a new contract with May was agred upon only for May to leave for the Mavericks a little over two months later.
Yet that’s what the university has become under Manuel’s leadership. In both May’s and Harbaugh’s cases, rumored contract extensions were on the table for them at the time of their departures. In fact, Manuel claimed at the national title celebration that he and May agreed to terms on a new contract. It’s not abnormal for coaches to have aspirations beyond just winning a national title at the college level; Harbaugh’s flirtations with the NFL were no secret, and the same was clearly true for May. It shouldn’t matter, though, when your university is one of the best, richest and historic in the nation.
The Mavericks job is an appealing one
The Mavericks have a young star in Cooper Flagg and a still game-changing veteran in Kyrie Irving. The Mavericks have three picks in the NBA Draft, which starts on Tuesday, and the Mavericks could wind up drafting one or two Michigan players.
In coaching circles, the Mavericks’ job was considered appealing because of Flagg’s presence. The Mavericks are expected to go into next season with Flagg and Kyrie Irving as cornerstones. They control the Nos. 9, 30 and 48 selections in this week’s NBA Draft.
They have discussed a variety of trade-back scenarios, including one, according to league sources, that would net Dallas the No. 16 pick that Memphis currently controls. Three Michigan players who suited up for May last season — Aday Mara, Morez Johnson Jr. and Yaxel Lendeborg — are expected to be first-round picks Tuesday.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 3: Desmond Bane #3 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 3, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A former TCU men’s basketball star is getting involved with his alma mater in a special advisory role.
Desmond Bane, a six-year NBA veteran and former first-round draft selection in 2020, has been named TCU’s chief basketball officer. In this role, Bane will serve as a special advisor to head coach Jamie Dixon and volunteer his time to the men’s basketball program. The role is described on TCU’s website as a mentorship role where Bane will “offer guidance on career management and serve as a liaison to the NBA.”
— TCU Men's Basketball (@TCUBasketball) June 22, 2026
Bane, who currently plays for the Orlando Magic, averaged 20.1 points and shot 39.1 percent from 3-point range while starting all 82 games. Bane played his first five years with the Memphis Grizzlies. At TCU, Bane was a two-time All-Big 12 selection and still ranks as the Horned Frogs’ all-time leader in 3-pointers (249), wins (84) and games played (141). Bane also ranks third all-time in points with 1,784, third with 659 made field goals and fifth in 3-point accuracy at 43.3 percent. His No. 1 jersey was retired at TCU on Feb. 18, 2025.
As a freshman, Bane guided the Horned Frogs to the 2017 NIT Championship, the program’s first postseason championship. The following season, Bane led TCU to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 20 years while leading the Big 12 in 3-point accuracy at 46.1 percent. As a junior, Bane was an All-Big 12 Second Team selection and an USBWA All-District VII choice.
— TCU Men's Basketball (@TCUBasketball) June 22, 2026
As a senior in 2019-20, Bane averaged 16.6 points, which ranked second in the Big 12. He became the first TCU player to earn All-Big 12 First Team and also earned USBWA All-District VII and NABC All-District 8 honors. He never missed a game in his career and missed just one practice.
