We’ve heard various New York Knicks trade rumors involving big names for years now, but don’t expect the arrival of OG Anunoby to slow down speculation of more moves in the Big Apple. With a core built around Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, and Anunoby, among others, the Knicks are finally viewed as legitimate contenders, but do they have enough to compete for an NBA Finals trophy?
That’s the biggest question remaining for coach Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks roster. Do they have enough talent on hand, or are more moves needed? When comparing to other title contenders, like the Boston Celtics, it would be fair to say the Knicks still have some ground to make up. Yet, Knicks team president Leon Rose has remained aggressive in pursuing other trades, which may include involving a franchise cornerstone.
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New York Knicks could swap Julius Randle for another All-Star
According to Brandon Robinson, the New York Knicks are “still open” to trading Julius Randle. At first glance, it may seem like a wild concept due to how important he is to the team’s structure, yet several other reports have suggested the Knicks are not done making moves.
While Brunson is the team’s leading scorer, it’s been Randle who’s been more productive in that area over the past ten games.
- Julius Randle’s stats in past ten games: 28.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 3.3 APG, 50% FG
It’s hard to envision the Knicks making such a big trade in-season, yet perhaps they could re-visit trading Randle during the offseason if Coach Thibodeau doesn’t get the results he’s seeking during the playoffs.
Yet, any Randle trade would likely only occur if the Knicks have a chance to add a player who’s considered to be even better than the two-time All-NBA big. Pulling off such a trade may be hard to do, but the Knicks have plenty of trade capital, including several tradeable first-round picks.
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