For New York Knicks fans hoping the team might trade forward Julius Randle for an upgrade this summer, an NBA general manager claims it is very unlikely due to how some around the league view him.
The New York Knicks had a major bounceback season in 2022-2023. After disappointing and failing to return to playoffs last spring, the team was a force in the Eastern Conference over the last few months and was able to end their decade-long streak of being unable to reach the semifinals of the postseason.
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Point guard Jalen Brunson played a huge role in the team’s success this season, however, All-Star Julius Randle recapturing his All-NBA form was just as pivotal. Yet, when it mattered most the 28-year-old did not deliver in the same way during the playoffs. While an ankle injury hampered him in May, he also underperformed in their postseason run in 2021 as well.
It is why New York Knicks fans starved for a championship have grown frustrated with Randle and has long wanted the organization to move on from the two-time All-Star. On paper, a player that averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds should be one that garners a lot of interest around the league. However, that may not be the case.
New York Knicks record (’22-’23): 47-35
On Monday, Heavy.com NBA insider Sean Deveney was told by a general manager in the league that the New York Knicks are unlikely to get good value in a potential Julius Randle trade.
“They are not in a position to trade Randle because there’s no way to get value for him. They have found a way to get him to be really productive with what they do. But that does not really translate to a lot of other teams. So that is always going to work against them if they were to move him. But they have not had those conversations in a long time, and he has three years left on the contract so it is something where he is not going anywhere for a while.”
– Anonymous NBA GM
That likely means the team trying to upgrade the roster could come by using backup power forward, and former first-round pick Obi Toppin in potential trades this summer.