Among the biggest questions the New York Knicks face heading into the season is how Julius Randle fits on their reloaded squad.
With the acquisition of Mikal Bridges and re-signing of OG Anunoby, the Knicks are now loaded with 3-and-D wings to surround Jalen Brunson.
It makes for a somewhat awkward fit for Randle, a traditional power forward who thrives with the ball in his hands and is neither an elite shooter or defender.
SNY's Ian Begley reported that some "decision-makers" within the Knicks aren't "bullish" on Randle's fit with the group anymore.
Begley noted, however, that some within the Knicks are confident that Randle will fit in, citing the Knicks' 12-2 January record with Anunoby and Randle in the lineup.
Nonetheless, the uncertainty surrounding Randle's place on this Brunson-led team makes him a popular trade candidate. ESPN's Zach Lowe said on "NBA Today" and his podcast that Randle becomes an interesting player to monitor because of his less-than-perfect fit with the team.
A mock trade from Bleacher Report on Wednesday sending Randle to the Dallas Mavericks for a package of P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Jaden Hardy, and second round picks created a buzz on Knicks Twitter.
A perfect trade is hard to find
However, finding a Randle trade that works under the new, harsh CBA and makes the Knicks better is difficult.
How many players present a better fit, similar talent level, and are actually available with the Knicks' limited assets?
One popular idea has been swapping Randle for Karl-Anthony Towns. Such a trade would involve the Knicks adding another salary to match Towns' — that would mean the Knicks would either have to part with another piece of their core or sign-and-trade Precious Achiuwa (it's unclear if Minnesota would want yet another big man). The Knicks could involve a third team, but that adds to the complexity.
And while Towns is theoretically a good player to swap for Randle — he's a 4.5 who can stretch the floor — if the goal is to add a proven playoff performer who defends and plays off the ball better than Randle... does Towns really fit, especially for the cost?
The Knicks have to be choosy if they're going to explore trading Randle. They'll need size, which figures to play an important role on this year's team. With the Knicks lacking depth at center (even if they add a backup center), they can experiment with small-ball lineups that feature Randle and Anunoby as the two "bigs." Those lineups, with the right spacing and defense around them, could be fierce and allow the Knicks to get the most of their numerous wings. Swap Randle out for a smaller player, and those lineups might be a little harder to get to.
It might be tempting to suggest the Knicks look for another 3-and-D forward. Take the Bleacher Report mock trade involving the Mavericks, for example. It's a strong return for the Knicks, but would they have enough offensively after making the trade?
It's tempting to look at the Knicks' success last year and think that the right move is to build an entire team around Brunson as the engine of the offense. However, the Knicks went 21-15 after Randle got hurt on January 27 — just the 12th-best record in the league.
While the Knicks won a rousing playoff series over the Philadelphia 76ers without Randle, it was an incredibly close series — one decided by one total point over six games. They fell in seven games to the Indiana Pacers in a series they may have won if Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson were healthy.
Still, that playoff run put an enormous burden on Brunson (who was injured by the end of it). It was clear the Knicks missed the inside-outside dimension Randle gives them on offense and the ability to draw double-teams. And once again, with Anunoby and Robinson injured, the Knicks lacked size. For example, Randle's physique and offensive prowess could have made life harder for Pascal Siakam, who was torching the 6-foot-4 Josh Hart by the end of the series.
Adding a player like Washington, whose shots are mostly created for him by others, doesn't ease much of Brunson's responsibilities.
Does the presence of Bridges, who got valuable reps as a first option with the Brooklyn Nets, ease enough of it? Perhaps, but once again, Bridges is a player who initiates offense off the dribble, from the perimeter.
A Randle trade between now and the start of the season seems unlikely anyway, but it would behoove the Knicks to see how this group looks first. If Randle leans just slightly into a more off-ball role — spotting up, picking and popping, making quicker decisions with the ball — he may prove to be an excellent fit with the revamped Knicks. And when offensive possessions die, the Knicks can throw him the ball so he can work his one-on-one game. (Defensively, Randle will never be elite, but perhaps he can just be engaged more often).
If after a few months, the fit just isn't working, at least the Knicks will have proof that it's time to move on. But that won't make finding a Randle replacement any easier.
