The Minnesota Timberwolves kicked off the offseason with a blockbuster trade that made a lot of fans scratch their heads. They gave up the 28th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, just to get off of Julius Randle’s contract. In return for the first-rounder and the hulking power forward, the Timberwolves got the 33rd pick. The Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls were also involved in the trade.
The Timberwolves roster got noticeably worse because of the trade. Not only do they lose out on a chance to draft a first round prospect in one of the most loaded draft classes in history, but they get next to nothing back for their starting four. Randle provided play creation and physicality for a Timberwolves team that needed both.
It is clear the trade was made with finances in mind. The team quickly re-signed Ayo Dosunmu after the trade was made, and bringing back Bones Hyland and Jaylen Clark will now be more feasible. The Timberwolves also generated a $33 million trade exception, which has fans thinking that the Randle deal was just a precursor to another big trade. After all, Tim Connelly is one of the most aggressive wheelers and dealers in the NBA.
If Randle was just traded to make more room to sign Dosunmu, then the trade itself has to be looked upon negatively, but if it increases the likelihood of the Timberwolves getting a star, then they can’t be blamed. So, what trade must the Timberwolves make now to follow up the Randle deal?
What is the next trade the Timberwolves must make?
Timberwolves receive: Ja Morant, GG Jackson
Grizzlies receive: 2033 first-round pick, Terrence Shannon Jr., Joan Beringer, 2028 first-round swap options
The Timberwolves’ biggest need all of last season was the point guard position. While Dosunmu is now locked up long-term and can play the point guard when need be, he is more of a shooting guard, and Minnesota’s need for creation is only greater with Randle gone. Although he was a frontcourt player, Randle was someone who could handle the ball and make things happen for the Timberwolves.
Ja Morant has long been viewed as one of the best point guards in the NBA, but he could very well be traded this offseason. The Memphis Grizzlies have embraced a rebuild, evidenced by their recent trades of Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. Morant has also fallen somewhat out of favor in Memphis because of off-the-court issues and persistent injury woes.
His recent struggles could result in him going for cheaper in the trade market than most of the other big-name players on the trading block. A change of scenery could do Morant well, though. After all, he was viewed as one of the future faces of the NBA not long ago. Morant is a two-time All-Star and one of the best athletes in the NBA. He’d fit perfectly alongside Anthony Edwards and the newly extended Dosunmu, and together, Edwards and Morant would have rim protectors looking over their shoulders on a nightly basis because of their top-tier leaping abilities.
Most superstar trades these days require a surplus of draft picks and prospects, but Minnesota doesn’t have that much to offer. Luckily, there hasn’t been much of a trade market for Morant recently. The Timberwolves might be able to get away with acquiring him for their lone tradeable first-rounder and two recent top-30 draft picks, in Terrence Shannon Jr. and Joan Beringer. The swap option could further entice the Grizzlies.
Would the Grizzlies give up on Ja Morant?
For such an underwhelming trade package, the Grizzlies would be better off holding onto Morant, at least until he revitalizes his trade value. There is a very strong possibility that the team won’t want to wait any longer after all of the drama he has been surrounded in, though. After all, they’ve already acquired a bunch of picks and prospects, and fully committing to the rebuild might make the most sense.
Because of the Randle trade exception, the Grizzlies could move on from Morant and his huge contract without taking on a ton of money. They could instead focus on adding players for their future. Beringer has serious rim protection potential, and Shannon was already playing playoff minutes in his second season. Both players are on their rookie contracts.
In all likelihood, the Grizzlies would hold onto Morant if this were the best they could get. They’ve already scoffed at trade proposals for over a year, and they’ve held onto Morant through highs and lows. If there is interest on Memphis’ end, though, the Timberwolves would surely jump all over this proposal. It allows them to add a much-needed point guard to a roster already featuring Edwards, Dosunmu, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, and Naz Reid.
The post The next trade Timberwolves must make after dumping Julius Randle to Nets appeared first on ClutchPoints.
