The Clippers are locked into their current title window with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, and if this year’s struggles continue, I’d expect the team to be looking for a midyear upgrade. In Julius Randle, the Clippers would be addressing several key deficiencies in their current roster: rebounding, passing, free throws, and at-the-rim scoring. Although imperfect, Randle has shown this year that he can continue to help in these areas while playing in a more complementary role. Additionally, his ability to lead offenses — even if not ideal — can act as a decent stopgap for stretches when Kawhi and PG are either hurt or resting.

For the Knicks, this trade would allow Obi to move into the starting lineup while adding a far-out unprotected pick to their trove of draft capital. Additionally, swaps for the 2023 Mavs and 2025 Bucks picks add further upside to some of the Knicks’ least attractive draft assets.