Trade speculation will continue to surround Julius Randle until he and the New York Knicks agree on a contract extension. Randle will be eligible for a four-year, $181.5 million deal on August 3.
Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposes that the Knicks trade Randle to the Dallas Mavericks in a “blockbuster” move.
Dallas Receives:
- Julius Randle
New York Receives:
- P.J. Washington
- Daniel Gafford
- Jaden Hardy
- 2025 second-round pick (via Toronto Raptors)
- 2028 second-round pick (via Miami Heat)
Swartz suggests that Gafford could strengthen the Knicks’ center rotation. He writes:
“The Knicks need another center with Hartenstein gone, a role Gafford (11.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 72.5 percent shooting) can serve as either a starter or reserve. Washington (12.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 0.8 blocks) is a solid rotation forward, and Hardy, 22, packs some scoring punch and potential off the bench.”
Washington would serve as a replacement for Randle, and Hardy, despite his current stats, has a higher potential ceiling. The 22-year-old averaged 7.3 points in 13.5 minutes per game last season, translating to a 19.3 per 36 minutes average.
Randle, a Dallas native, appeared in 46 games with the Knicks last season, averaging 24 points, 9.2 rebounds, and five assists per game. However, New York’s willingness to trade the three-time All-Star remains unreported.
Why Would Dallas Go All-In On Randle?
Dallas suffered a gentleman’s sweep in the NBA Finals, losing four games to one to the Boston Celtics. They were outgunned and outmanned in almost every facet.
If the Mavericks hope to return to next year’s title series, they’ll need to revamp the roster. They have made some moves in free agency, adding veterans Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall.
But is that enough to put them over the top of the Celtics? If the answer is no, they have the assets to make a borderline-blockbuster trade. Whether the proposed package is enough to get Randle is undetermined, but he would certainly boost their title chances against any team.
The Mavericks struggled with rebounding last season, averaging just 42.9 per game, ranking 22nd in the league. Midseason trades for Gafford and Washington helped but didn’t fully solve the problem. Dallas improved to 44.1 rebounds per game for the final 27 games of the season, ranking 11th among all teams.
Randle would provide a more versatile threat off the glass. According to Stathead, he averaged the third-most rebounds among players 6-foot-9 and shorter.
Why Would The Knicks Trade Randle?
Randle was the face of New York basketball before Jalen Brunson’s arrival. Since then, he’s missed time in consecutive postseasons due to injury and is now up for an extension as soon as August 3.
With the acquisitions of OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, the Knicks have an abundance of starters. Donte DiVincenzo, who set the franchise record for most 3-pointers in a season last year, is likely headed to the bench.
A frontcourt of Randle and Mitchell Robinson has not been successful through many lineup iterations since 2019. In 1,140 possessions with the duo on the floor last season, New York outscored
opponents by 2.3 points per 100 possessions. However, in 2,148 possessions with Randle on the floor and Robinson off, that number skyrocketed to 9 points per 100 possessions.
The absence of Hartenstein may prove an even bigger detriment to New York. In 3,816 possessions with the starting center off the floor, the Knicks were outscored by 0.7 points per 100 possessions. While this may seem like a small number, their offensive and defensive numbers ranked in the 51st and 47th percentiles, respectively—essentially average.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau’s reluctance to use small-ball lineups is another potential obstacle for the Knicks. Non-center lineups played just 32 possessions last season, representing only 0.004%.
As an aspiring title contender heading into next season, the Knicks should consider any deal that improves their center rotation and provides additional assets as a win. Trading Randle could be a step in that direction.
Leave a Reply