The New York Knicks reportedly have reached out to other teams about moving forward Julius Randle in a trade.
The Athletic’s Fred Katz explained on a recent episode of the “Callin Shots” podcast that while New York has made calls about Randle, there likely won’t be a deal this summer.
“The Knicks have inquired with other teams about moving Julius Randle,” Katz said. “I’m not optimistic. If you’re somebody who wants them to trade Randle, I wouldn’t predict that’s what happens this summer. We’re talking about like giving him away. Maybe if you take back a contract of equal value.”
The 2021-22 season was a tough one for Randle after he made an All-NBA team in the prior campaign. He saw his efficiency from the field and beyond the arc drop significantly in the 2021-22 season.
The Knicks earned the No. 4 seed in the East in the 2020-21 campaign behind some really strong play from Randle. That season, he averaged 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game while shooting 45.6 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from deep.
He was rewarded for his play, as the Knicks signed him to a four-year extension worth just over $117 million in the 2021 offseason.
In the 2021-22 season, Randle took a step back, and the Knicks did as well. The team ended up in the lottery once again, but it has made some major moves to clear cap space this summer. The Knicks have traded away Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel and Kemba Walker to make a run at guard Jalen Brunson in free agency.
There’s no doubt that Randle has to play better going forward for the Knicks, but Katz makes a good point that the team would be selling low if it moved him this offseason.
