A 3-Team Julius Randle Trade Idea with Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls
How long will Julius Randle stay with the Minnesota Timberwolves?
The three-time All-Star is averaging 18.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game during his first season with the Timberwolves, but the team isn't as good as it was last year. Many sources around the league don't believe Randle has a long-term home in Minnesota, but he's unlikely to decline his $30.9 million player option this offseason.
Some anticipate the Timberwolves will prioritize re-signing Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker while pursuing a younger point guard than the 37-year-old Mike Conley, which could lead to Randle getting moved as early as the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline.
The following is one example of Randle going out in a theoretical three-team deal.
Full Trade Scenario
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Timberwolves get:
- Lonzo Ball (from Chicago Bulls)
- Buddy Hield (from Golden State Warriors)
- Julian Phillips (from Bulls)
- $2.9 million trade exception (Julius Randle)
Bulls get:
- Julius Randle (from Timberwolves)
- Jonathan Kuminga (from Warriors)
- Kevon Looney (from Warriors)
- Kyle Anderson (from Warriors)
- Gary Payton II (from Warriors)
- Luka Garza (from Timberwolves)
- $20 million trade exception (Nikola Vučević)
- $2.8 million trade exception (Torrey Craig)
Warriors get:
- Nikola Vučević (from Bulls)
- Patrick Williams (from Bulls)
- Torrey Craig (from Bulls)
- Talen Horton-Tucker (from Bulls)
- $9.1 million trade exception (Gary Payton II)
Note: Ahead of the trade, the Timberwolves execute Garza's team option to continue through 2025-26.
Why the Minnesota Timberwolves Do It
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Minnesota shocked many around the NBA by trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo after a run to the 2024 Western Conference Finals. The move was more about finances than basketball, with the Timberwolves eager to make their way under the league's restrictive second apron by the 2025-26 season (projected at $207.8 million).
Randle provides offensive firepower for the Timberwolves, but they're believed to prefer a more defensive-minded identity with a less ball-dominant forward. This trade would get them a look at Ball, who fits that defensive identity and is on an expiring contract. If he fits well and Minnesota is convinced that he's past his knee troubles, he could re-sign this offseason at a more economical price than his current $21.4 million.
Hield has three more seasons on his contract, but at $9.2 million next year, he's much cheaper than Randle's player option. After 2025-26, only $3 million of Hield's salary is guaranteed. Hield's shooting would help in the wake of DiVincenzo's toe injury, and Minnesota would also get a look at Phillips, a young wing on an inexpensive contract.
Minnesota president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has strong connections to Chicago's front office. He previously worked with Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas with the Denver Nuggets, and his brother, Pat Connelly, is one of the Bulls' assistant general managers.
After getting out from Randle's contract, the Timberwolves would have up to nearly $53 million to spend on Reid, Alexander-Walker and Ball. They would have a new level of flexibility to build around their core of Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels.
Why the Chicago Bulls Do It
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The Bulls remain in limbo. They're trying to compete for the playoffs but are falling short. However, they don't have enough interest in tanking to earn a top lottery pick.
Chicago seemed to recognize it was time to shift this offseason when it traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder and sign-and-traded DeMar DeRozan to the Sacramento Kings. The Bulls owe their 2025 first-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs if it falls outside of the top 10, so they should be motivated to keep it.
Zach LaVine has played well this year, but Chicago probably won't be able to move his sizable contract by the trade deadline. Nikola Vučević has suitors, but they're believed to be reluctant to send out first-round picks for the 34-year-old. The Bulls reinvested in Patrick Williams in July, but he hasn't been a difference-maker. He's shooting only 38.1 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three this year.
This trade would represent a significant shift for Chicago. The Bulls would get arguably the best player in the deal in Julius Randle and the top prospect in Jonathan Kuminga, who'll be a restricted free agent this offseason. The Bulls have rarely shied away from a battle in restricted free agency, and no more than four teams project to have real spending power this offseason.
Chicago would likely aspire to get Trayce Jackson-Davis from the Warriors in the deal, but that may be a step too far for Golden State. Instead, the Bulls would land a young center in Luka Garza and a veteran in Kevon Looney.
If the Bulls aren't interested in tanking, acquiring capable veterans like Looney, Kyle Anderson and Gary Payton II could help them stay in the play-in mix. The latter two are on expiring contracts, and the Bulls would gain a sizable trade exception for additional flexibility.
Why the Golden State Warriors Do It
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Multiple NBA sources indicate that the Warriors have sought a true starting center for some time, including veterans like Jonas Valančiūnas and Nikola Vučević. Here, they get the latter, who's under contract for $20 million this year and $21.5 million in 2025-26.
The Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga seem to have different contract expectations. Instead of dealing with the uncertainty of that negotiation this offseason, Golden State would have Patrick Williams locked in at $18 million flat through 2028-29 (including a player option on the final year of his deal). His size and athleticism would complement Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins.
The Warriors have primarily ensured their contracts will expire alongside the final year of Curry's current deal (2026-27), but they showed they'd go beyond that with Moses Moody. Williams' salary would be lower than what Kuminga is expecting.
Golden State would give up several veterans in this deal but would get a few back in Torrey Craig and Talen Horton-Tucker. Although the Warriors are limited by the NBA's first apron ($170.8 million), they'd still have enough space to sign a veteran for the rest of the season or convert two-way player Quinten Post (No. 52 last June) as their 14th player.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X/Twitter @EricPincus.
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