Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Scott41theMavs]

@ShamsCharania
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.

See? Unlike Presti, who got assets for his salary dump guy, Minnesota had to give assets. Thank goodness Connelly wasn't our guy. I'd feel far less secure about the future.

[mvossman]

I would shock me. I think Q is an even bigger injury risk than Lively, and I would stay far away..

Don't shock yourself.  Its just a game.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

MIN spent the #28 pick to salary dump Randle?

edit: but they got #33 back

[SleepingHero]

Ok...someone help me understand what's happening here.

Seriously puzzling trade.

For all of Randle's warts, they are better with him than without him.

This does let Minny keep Ayo if they wanted to, and it saves them a bunch of money. But they basically moved 5 spots back and gave up a core rotation player....


Meanwhile Chicago gets Claxton for free. Makes no sense. 

Has to be another move in the pipeline.

[loki]

See? Unlike Presti, who got assets for his salary dump guy, Minnesota had to give assets. Thank goodness Connelly wasn't our guy. I'd feel far less secure about the future.

Randle was due $33M and $36M so it would have been hard to get assets in return without significant money coming back. They didn't really give up a ton here and now they have the flexibility to re-sign Ayo.

[SleepingHero]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Timberwolves free up significant salary with the remaining two years of Randle's deal, giving them more flexibility to retain Ayo Dosunmu and use exceptions. Nets acquire a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA forward in Randle into their cap space -- plus a first-rounder.

[mvossman]

See? Unlike Presti, who got assets for his salary dump guy, Minnesota had to give assets. Thank goodness Connelly wasn't our guy. I'd feel far less secure about the future.

The difference is in quality of contract.  Randle will cost 70 mil over the next two years.

[KillerLeft]

See? Unlike Presti, who got assets for his salary dump guy, Minnesota had to give assets. Thank goodness Connelly wasn't our guy. I'd feel far less secure about the future.

Yeah, and you're right to give Presti some credit, but imo you're misplacing it (in this case) as "negotiating" when in reality it's more "the excess players on OKC's roster that need to bet removed are actually GOOD and not on terrible contracts." ATL wanted WIGGINS, not what they thought maybe they could get for helping OKC dispose of a mistake. Because he wasn't a mistake. DORT might be viewed as a mistake. MIGHT. Wiggins and Joe are likely viewed in many NBA circles as opportunities.

[mvossman]

Randle was due $33M and $36M so it would have been hard to get assets in return without significant money coming back. They didn't really give up a ton here and now they have the flexibility to re-sign Ayo.

Beat me to it.

[mvossman]

Yeah, and you're right to give Presti some credit, but imo you're misplacing it (in this case) as "negotiating" when in reality it's more "the excess players on OKC's roster that need to bet removed are actually GOOD and not on terrible contracts." ATL wanted WIGGINS, not what they thought maybe they could get for helping OKC dispose of a mistake. Because he wasn't a mistake. DORT might be viewed as a mistake. MIGHT. Wiggins and Joe are likely viewed in many NBA circles as opportunities.

I wouldn't be surprised if they get something for Dort, and worst case they can just dump him.

[SleepingHero]

Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA)
Cap and Tax impacts for the Nets, Bulls and Wolves three-team trades:

Brooklyn: $37.7M in projected cap space available
Chicago: $32.5M in projected cap space available

Minnesota: $43.8M under the luxury tax, create a $33.3M TPE

[DallasMaverick]

which Mav is most likely to get traded tomorrow?  I'm thinking Gafford is gone.

Klay

[ThisIStheYear]

Gawd, PJ has a terrible, terrible contract. The Mavs will have to pay to dump it. They should move him as soon as possible for whatever they can get.

[DallasMaverick]

Gawd, PJ has a terrible, terrible contract. The Mavs will have to pay to dump it. They should move him as soon as possible for whatever they can get.

Wow

[F Gump]

MINN is interesting. If they want to stay under the tax line, they can. BUT they won't have room for a score in free agency to replace Randle (assuming they want to). They also need a secondary scorer to take the pressure off Ant.

Right now they are about 155M with 7 players. But if you pencil in Ayo at 20M and 6 bodies at the minimum, leaving one spot for a FA, they are at about 190M with the tax line at about 201. They do have some FA's of their own to maybe fill some of the minimums. But not room to solve their needs in free agency.

So it seems to me they will have a higher budget, at A2, 221M-ish. How would they use it? IIUC this deal is not legal until July, so I think they will use JR outgoing as the match and try to take back a helpful piece from someone (making it a 4-way).

[mvossman]

Gawd, PJ has a terrible, terrible contract. The Mavs will have to pay to dump it. They should move him as soon as possible for whatever they can get.

Crazy take.  I don't think there is any chance they have to pay to dump him right now, and its very likely he will be worth more after this coming season.

[Chicagojk]

I have no idea what to make of this trade for Minny. All I know is Connelly will be very aggressive this offseason and this is just the start. Not sure how this move unlocks the next move but expect some big changes in Minny as they try to revamp around Ant.

Why did the Lakers not take claxton for nothing?

[loki]

Bobby Portis to Miami

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-c...5b8c7036e3

[Luka77]

Giannis to Miami

[Chicagojk]

Giannis to Miami. Looks like a pretty good package for Milwaukee. Miami gets a superstar. Fun starts how they are planning to build a contender around Gianas and Bam. They don’t have one now. Minimal assets left. They need that Miami magic.

Boston has a Jaylon Brown problem now. I wonder if he is moved regardless. Sounds like Miami included the rookie point guard. I read the Hugo Gonzalez was someone mil was pushing hard for.