Until Julius Randle and the New York Knicks agree on a contract extension, trade talks will keep circling around him. On August 3, he will be qualified for a four-year, $181.5 million contract.
In a “blockbuster” trade, Bleaher Report’s Greg Swartz suggests the Knicks trade him to the Dallas Mavericks.
Randle is received by Dallas.
P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Jaden Hardy, a 2025 second-round selection (via the Toronto Raptors), and a 2028 second-round pick (via the Miami Heat) are acquired by New York.
Gafford was presented by Swartz as a way to strengthen the Knicks center rotation.
With Hartenstein gone, the Knicks need a new center. Gafford (11.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 72.5 percent shooting) can play both as a starter and a backup. Washington is a reliable rotation forward with 12.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 0.8 blocks, and Hardy, 22, can score some points off the bench.
A Randle replacement would come from Washington, and Hardy’s ceiling is higher than what his stat lines indicate.
Last season, the 22-year-old scored 7.3 points on 13.5 minutes a game, or an average of 19.3 points per 36 minutes.
Although Randle is a native of Dallas, it is unknown if New York would be open to trading for the three-time All-Star. During the previous season, he played in 46 games with the Knicks, averaging 24 points, 9.2 rebounds, and five assists.
Why Would Dallas Make a Complete Bet on Randle?
Dallas lost four games to one against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, enduring a gentleman’s sweep. In nearly every aspect, they were outnumbered and outgunned.
So the Mavericks will need to make some personnel changes if they want to compete in the championship series again next year. They have made some progress in this area by recruiting veterans Naji Marshall and Klay Thompson through free agency.
But will that be sufficient to overcome the Celtics? They have the means to create a barely passable blockbuster if they determine that the answer to that question is negative.
Randle would improve their chances of winning the championship against any club, regardless of whether the suggested sum is sufficient to acquire him.
The Mavericks averaged just 42.9 rebounds per game last season, making them a poor overall rebounding squad. That was 22nd in the entire league.
Washington and Gafford were acquired in midseason, which assisted but did not resolve the issue. For the last 27 games of the season, Dallas increased its average rebounding per game to 44.1, ranking 11th among all teams.
Off the glass, Randle would offer a more varied danger. Among players who were six feet nine or less, Stathead claims that he pulled down the third-most rebounds on average.
Why Would Randle Be Traded by the Knicks?
Prior to the entrance of Jalen Brunson, Randle was the face of New York basketball.
Since then, he has lost time because of injuries in two straight postseasons. And as of right now, he is open to a delay till August 3.
The Knicks now have nearly too many starters after acquiring Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby. Donte DiVincenzo, who last year broke the franchise record for most 3-pointers made in a season, is probably going to sit this one out.
However, since 2019, a front court consisting of Randle and Mitchell Robinson has not been effective despite numerous lineup changes.
Last season, when both players were on the court, New York outscored opponents by 2.3 points per 100 possessions in 1,140 possessions. With Robinson off the court and Randle on the floor, however, that number soared to 9 points per 100 possessions in 2,148 possessions.
Hartenstein’s absence could be much more detrimental to New York. With the starting center off the court for 3,816 possessions, the Knicks trailed by 0.7 points per 100 possessions. Although that might seem like a tiny figure, their offensive and defensive stats were in the run-of-the-mill 51st and 47th percentiles.
Another potential obstacle to next year’s strategy is head coach Tom Thibodeau’s reluctance to use small-ball lineups.
Just 32 possessions were made by lineups without a center last season. That amounts to.004%.
Entering the upcoming season, New York is a serious contender for the crown. Any trade that results in additional assets and assistance with center rotation need to be viewed as successful.