Tracy McGrady blasts Timberwolves for trading Julius Randle ahead of 2026 playoffs

Tracy McGrady has slammed the Minnesota Timberwolves for shipping out Julius Randle just months after the forward led the team deep into the playoffs.

What happened?

The Timberwolves traded three-time All-Star Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets on 15 Jul 2026, ending his brief but impactful tenure in Minnesota. The move came after Randle averaged 21.1 points over 79 games in 2025-26, including a 19.2-point playoff performance that ousted the Denver Nuggets in the first round.

McGrady, a former NBA superstar, called the trade unfair. *"I honestly hate how they lost Julius Randle,"* he told Basketball Network. *"He was getting it done. You got to stay, especially when you have a good team like that."*

Why it matters for Tracy McGrady

The trade leaves Randle in Brooklyn, a team that hasn’t topped 33 wins in any of the last three seasons. McGrady argued Randle’s playoff struggles in 2026-12.8 points per game against the Spurs-were overblown. He blamed Randle’s uneven series on frustration over trade talks, not skill.

Randle arrived in Minnesota with sky-high expectations after the Timberwolves reached the Western Conference Finals in 2024. His slow start-18.7 points per game in 69 appearances-turned around in the playoffs, where he averaged 21.7 points.

What comes next?

Randle now faces a rebuild in Brooklyn alongside Michael Porter Jr., who just logged his best NBA season. History suggests leaving Minnesota can still lead to success: Kevin Garnett, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Andrew Wiggins all won titles after departing the franchise.

McGrady’s criticism underscores the high stakes of the Timberwolves’ gamble on LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards. The duo now anchors a revamped roster, but the cost-losing Randle-has drawn sharp reactions from voices like McGrady’s.

Randle’s first series in Brooklyn opens a chance to silence doubters. His 2025-26 consistency proves he’s more than a one-year wonder. But one poor playoff run can erase years of progress, and that’s the harsh reality McGrady sees in Randle’s exit.