Knicks News and Rumor Roundup

Checking in on the latest rumors and rumblings as we inch our way toward the start of training camp…

Checking in on the latest rumors and rumblings as we inch our way toward the start of training camp…

🏀 The Randle Rubik's Cube 

There aren't many questions that are still unanswered or boxes left to be checked by the Knicks front office. Fourteen of the team's 15 roster spots are accounted for, as are all three of their two-ways. Jalen Brunson's extension has been inked, as has Tom Thibodeau's, meaning both the point guard and the head coach are secure for the foreseeable future. 

The biggest unknown right now pertains to the future of the team's star power forward. It's been over a month since Julius Randle became eligible to sign an extension, keeping him in New York past the 2024-25 season, and there hasn't been any reported progress on that front. While it is important to point out that Leon Rose and company notoriously move in silence (the two sides could be at the one-yard line on a new deal, and we probably wouldn't find out until after the ink dried on the contract), it seems as though both the player and the franchise may be willing to play out the upcoming season. Although it would be a significant gamble for both parties, there are also plenty of reasons why waiting makes sense for Randle and Rose. 

This is why it's not only Knicks fans, but general NBA fans, as well as coaches, executives and pundits around the league, who are fascinated to see what happens with Julius this season. Does Thibs finally budge and play him at center on occasion? How does Randle respond to his newly-named captain amid all the flowers Brunson received over the summer?

Over the weekend, a bogus fan account posted a picture falsely claiming the Knicks team store at Madison Square Garden wasn't selling any #30 jerseys. In his Instagram story, Randle posted the since-deleted picture with the caption "Worddddd this how y'all feel? @NYKnicks" alongside a pair of laughing emojis. Randle later wrote, "the truth shall come to light," with a sunglasses emoji.

I certainly wouldn't read too much into this non-story, especially because MSG is selling Randle's jersey, and the coaching staff and front office have gone out of their way to make Julius feel comfortable/appreciated since the day he arrived in NYC.

The more interesting question is whether Randle's shoulder will be 100% healthy at the start of the regular season and whether he will return to his All-Star form. Will he be asked to be more of a distributor/facilitator with Mikal Bridges joining the starting lineup? 

In last week's Hoop Collective podcast examining "The Most Important People For This NBA Season," ESPN's Brian Windhorst focused on Randle. Windy argued that Julius' affordable contract makes him an "extraordinarily tradeable" asset for New York, should they look to go that route. 

"A very attractive $29 million… His value, if he is 100%, is more than that. There is no reason why, if he is playing at the top of his game, why he shouldn't seriously consider opting out of that," said Windhorst. "Because of that $29 million salary, he's extraordinarily tradable. And the Knicks still do have a couple of extra first-rounds – not extra – there's no extra anymore. The Knicks do still have a couple of first-round picks that they can move."

🏀 A hypothetical trade involving Randle that generated some internet buzz last week was a deal proposed by Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus, who suggests the Knicks ship out Randle along with Jericho Sims and a pair of protected future first-round picks to Charlotte in exchange for Grant Williams Nick Richards. In Pincus' final iteration of the swap, the WIzards are looped in as part of a three-teamer. The Hornets also net Corey Kispert and Marvin Bagley III. The Wizards end up with Josh Green, Cody Martin and the Knicks picks. New York would receive two trade exceptions ($15.9 million via Randle and a $2.1 million trade exception via Sims).

In his explanation of why New York would be willing to make this swap, Pincus explains that Grant Williams has "more experience as a role player" than Randle and that "Williams is the better defender and shooter of the two, with a career three-point percentage of 37.7 percent (Randle's is 33.3 percent)."

"While Williams isn't traditionally tall, he plays bigger (capable at either forward position, but probably best at power forward). More importantly, Williams has a team-friendly contract for the next three years ($40.9 million), and the Knicks address a significant issue with the loss of Hartenstein in Richards," Pincus argues. "The backup center is listed at 7'0" and is under contract for two years ($10 million, second-year non-guaranteed). The Knicks go from over the first apron facing a $13.4 million luxury-tax penalty to entirely under the tax threshold ($170.8 million). The two 'firsts' given up aren't likely to convey as such—it's really three second-rounders, along with losing Sims, who would be behind Precious Achiuwa, Robinson and Richards in the rotation."