Listen, I am a Randle guy. I don't want him traded. I believe he deserves an opportunity this season to prove he can work alongside this core. He's the one who started it all, and I want him to be here when we win it all. However, rumours are beginning to pour in, and cryptic IG stories are being posted. So, if there were a Julius Randle trade out there that would keep the Knicks incredibly dangerous, what would it be? Here it is. I'll explain why each team agrees to this deal and how they benefit. I'll finalise this by showing you the key rotations for each team post-trade. Enjoy, and feel free to criticize in the comments; I'll respond to everyone!
Why They Do It
NYK - The most important aspect of a Randle trade that many seem to forget is his offensive production and the need to replace it. We cannot expect Jalen Brunson to carry the offense as he did this past postseason. Brandon Ingram's game fits seamlessly with this Knicks team. He is a true shot creator, a guy capable of making tough jumpers or finding the open man when need be. He's one of the better passing wings in the league and a better playmaker than Randle. This is highlighted by his superior "Portability" and "Passer Rating" scores (56th and 82nd percentile in both for Ingram, 36th and 62nd for Randle). His "Shot Quality" is also superior to Randle's. Ingram is also just a flat-out better defender than JR, scoring higher in every defensive metric outside of rebounding and rim protection stats. The main problem people will point to is his lack of outside shooting. I don't think that is a problem on this Knicks team, which has elite shooters everywhere (Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Divo, McBride). It's why we are one of the best teams for him; his weaknesses can be hidden and managed with this core while his strengths are magnified. It will mean he needs the ball a lot to be effective, but Brunson has proven to be just as deadly off-ball. If anything, it'll help keep JB fit for longer. The other big issue is his upcoming free agency. BI is looking for an extension in the $40-50M range, and this is probably the biggest reason for NY to say no, especially having just paid OG Anunoby. But given BI's lack of a market this trade season, I'm confident NY will have some leverage over his price and be able to negotiate something that works for all parties. He's a 25/5/5 guy at his best while taking more efficient shots, creating better opportunities for his teammates and having a game that translates to a playoff setting better than Randle's. And to put the icing on the cake, he's two years younger than Julius. If there is a player out there to replace Julius Randle on the Knicks and make them better, that guy is Brandon Ingram.
NOLA - The Pels have been trying to find a trade partner for Ingram, but nothing has come to fruition. They have two glaring needs: find a starting center to pair with Zion, get off of Ingram's contract to allow Trey Murphy and Herb Jones more opportunities in the starting lineup and extend their contracts in the near future. Ivica Zubac is a very good starting center in the NBA, and he is a significant upgrade over Daniel Theis and rookie Yves Missi. His offensive fit next to Zion isn't amazing, but he is fantastic defensively and a great offensive rebounder. He is also on an expiring contract, so if it doesn't work out, NOLA can let him walk. Norman Powell is another great role player and gives them another offensive outlet to have coming off the bench. He's one of the most consistent outside shooters in the league and has championship experience. Add on KBD and a 2031 1st round pick, which is quite a nice haul by New Orleans for a player they don't need.
LAC - The Clippers are in a strange scenario. They just lost Paul George and look to be one of the teams expected to fall hard out of playoff contention. The heavy reliance on the often-injured Kawhi Leonard has red flags written all over it. They also have no control of their 1st round picks for a while, and to top it all off, they just opened up a shiny new arena. That means they need to sell tickets quickly to make it a worthwhile investment. As a result, I believe that they are willing to make a more drastic move to improve the roster going forward. Julius Randle gives them security as he is a good floor-raiser and can hold down the team if Kawhi gets hurt. The fit isn't seamless, and there will be many question marks, but he's only got a player option after this year, which he will likely decline. They can then choose to extend him or use the money elsewhere. He's still in his prime at 29 years old and has experience living in LA, having previously been a Laker. Maybe a bruising, aggressive All-Star forward is exactly what LA needs to save this upcoming season. If there's a team out there that would be willing to make a move like this and bank on the upside, it's the Clippers.
New Rotations
New York Knicks
PG: Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride
SG: Mikal Bridges, Donte DiVincenzo
SF: Brandon Ingram, Pacome Dadiet
PF: OG Anunoby, Josh Hart
C: Mitchell Robinson, Daniel Theis
New Orleans Pelicans
PG: Dejounte Murray, Jose Alvarado
SG: CJ McCollum, Norman Powell
SF: Herb Jones, Trey Murphy
PF: Zion Williamson, Keita Bates-Diop
C: Ivica Zubac, Yves Missi
Los Angeles Clippers
PG: James Harden, Kris Dunn
SG: Terance Mann, Amir Coffey
SF: Kawhi Leonard, Derrick Jones Jr
PF: Julius Randle, Nic Batum
C: Precious Achiuwa, Mo Bamba
Thanks for reading!