Hour 2 - Timberrr!

The Minnesota Timberwolves traded Julius Randle and the 28th pick in the NBA draft to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a three-team deal and got back only the 33rd pick. Ben Maller calls it a "pure unfiltered salary dump" and gives the move an "I" for incomplete, arguing the Wolves have created cap space without acquiring any actual talent in return. The real question, he says, is whether Minnesota will now use that flexibility to pursue the one player who could transform the franchise: Ja Morant.

The Randle Trade as a Salary Dump

Maller is blunt about the Timberwolves' motivation. They offloaded Julius Randle's contract and the 28th pick, receiving only the 33rd pick in return. He frames this as a "dunghill" transaction — a roster demolition disguised as cap management. Randle is a flawed player who "vanished in the playoffs," averaging under 13 points on 34% shooting this postseason, but Maller argues that regular-season Randle is still more valuable than "blank salary cap space." He gives the trade an "I" for incomplete, calling it a "temporary stopover" before a bigger move. "Has anyone ever bought tickets for salary cap space?" he asks. "Does anyone watch games for salary cap space? You do not."

Why Ja Morant Is the Only Move That Makes Sense