The New York Knicks front office has an important offseason ahead of them. But should Julius Randle be part of their future plans?
Julius Randle’s tenure with the New York Knicks has been a roller coaster, to say the least. The former Kentucky Wildcat has made fans rejoice, laugh, scream, cry, and cringe in three seasons with the team (oftentimes all within the same game).
Initially, Randle signed a three-year, $62 million deal with the Knicks after an impressive season with the New Orleans Pelicans. His tenacious rebounding, brute force in the paint, and underrated soft touch were expected to make a huge impact in New York. But while he showed flashes of star ability, many remember his patented out-of-control spin-move-turnovers from the shortened 2019-20 season, a symbol of his abysmal 1.03 AST/TO ratio.
Yet, after a disappointing 2019-20 season, the following year felt like a basketball fantasy film. With the hiring of military sergeant seasoned head coach Tom Thibodeau, and extended offseason nights in the gym for the 6’8 forward, the culture shifted, the wins piled up, and the Knicks wound up 4th in the Eastern Conference by the regular season’s end.
That season, Randle improved his game in every way imaginable. His shooting developed nicely, his spin moves lessened, his decision-making out of the high and low post impressed, and even his defensive effort earned him a few NBA All-Defensive team votes. Randle averaged a Larry Bird-like 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists on a blistering .456/.411/.811 shooting split while also leading the entire league in minutes. Deservedly, he was named an All-Star that season and was awarded the Most Improved Player award and a spot on the All-NBA Second Team.
Despite a disappointing first-round playoff exit versus the Hawks, Randle’s 2020-21 season put him on the map as one of the NBA’s top talents. And he was paid like it too, signing a four-year, $117 million contract extension with New York in August 2021. The Knicks front office also spent money on Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker while bringing back key veterans.
Those offseason moves aimed to ride the high of the 2020-21 season, yet that didn’t happen. Whether it was the heightened expectations, the return to full arenas, or something else, Randle (and the Knicks) fell back into mediocrity. His averages fell to 20.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, and his sparkling 56.7 true shooting percentage dropped to 50.9 – 4th worst in the league. Now the contract extension looks like a disaster, and fans let him hear about his disappointing performance.
To be objective about Randle this past season, this is the best way to describe his performance: when he was on, he was on. But when he’s off…sheesh.
As we near the 2022 NBA Draft and a crucial offseason for this front office’s tenure, many Knicks fans are eager to pack Randle’s bags and drive him to LaGuardia Airport. On top of that, fans are urging for a full-blown youth movement, specifically more minutes for Obi Toppin at power forward. But trading Randle, especially for pennies on a dollar, doesn’t solve the Knicks’ current problems nor guarantees a brighter future for the team. Instead, the front office should keep Randle to begin the 2022-23 season. Here’s why:
Point Guard is Still a Problem
Same Knicks, different day. Fans have been praying every night before bed for a franchise point guard to fall into our laps. With Derrick Rose’s season-ending ankle injury, the effects of having no reliable floor general were clear this past season. Swingman Alec Burks started 36 games out of position at point guard, and the Knicks ranked second to last in the league in pace (95.9), 26th in points per game (106.5), and dead last in assists per game (21.9).
Thibs’ offensive system does promote a slower pace, but the absence of a true point guard forced Randle to make plays for himself and others, which turned out to be too much responsibility for him. The Knicks play with significantly different energy and confidence when Rose or Immanuel Quickley handles the rock, especially in transition. Heck, even with Elfrid Payton’s deficiencies, he was still a steady ball-handler who could make Randle’s job easier.
Randle has proven to be a great player when next to a competent floor general. In his lone season with New Orleans, he played with Elfrid Payton and Jrue Holiday, and the team finished third in the league in points (115.4) and pace (103.3). In 2020-21, Elfrid Payton, Derrick Rose, and Immanuel Quickley helped Randle have a career year. Compare that rotation to a tandem of Payton, Frank Ntilikina, and Dennis Smith Jr. (yikes) in 2020. This past season, Randle played 1375 minutes with Burks and 900 minutes with Kemba Walker on one knee, versus just 1053 combined with Quickley and Rose. See a trend?
Whether Leon Rose & Co. find the answer to their point guard problems in-house (Quickley, Deuce McBride), in free agency (Jalen Brunson, Tyus Jones), or on the trade market (Malcolm Brogdon, anyone?), the Knicks shouldn’t hinder their former All-Star who’s still in his prime years.
We’re Not Good!
Charles Barkley says many stupid things, but a broken clock is right twice a day. He recently spoke about the current state of the Knicks, claiming that the team doesn’t have much talent and is far from being a contender. The Knicks’ young core is a solid foundation for a franchise, but the focus should be on acquiring more talent, not dumping (arguably) their most talented player to whatever team will take him. As fun as it was to watch RJ Barrett take over as the all-but-official first option, he still has some growing to do himself—his 51.1 true shooting was just barely better than Randle’s.
“Addition by subtraction,” some fans might say. “Let Obi get an opportunity. Play the kids, Thibs!”
Let me ask a few questions: Are fans genuinely ready for another losing season? While ticket prices remain the same? And what happens if the lottery balls don’t fall their way?
We saw last season that Thibs won’t lose his win-now mentality until after the Knicks are officially eliminated from playoff contention—and even then, he still started Burks over Quickley! Knicks fans are tired of losing, and having Julius Randle gives them the best chance to win. No one else on the roster commands the defense’s attention like him, and when he’s locked in, we’ve seen what his willingness to find open teammates can do for the team. Balancing the veterans with the younger players is a job for Thibs, not the front office that should be looking to garner and retain as much talent as possible.
The Market Looks Dry
Many fake trades and fan-made rumors are flooding every social media platform, but until a reliable source reports on opposing teams’ interest in Randle, it’s all just smoke without fire. Organizations are probably hesitant to trade for a player making close to $30 million a year coming off a lousy season.
Randle’s value is currently at its lowest. So why not have him play his value back up? Maybe with some new additions in the off-season, 2021 Randle will reappear. But if the Knicks really want to trade Randle, give him time to prove he can be a solid contributor.
He Deserves One More Chance
We all saw it. The disappointing play. Bad body language. The whole thumbs-down fiasco. Bickering with refs. Squabbles with teammates. Post-game press conference no-shows. Randle clearly struggled to remain focused on basketball last season.
In solidarity with Russell Westbrook’s wife Nina, Randle’s wife Kendra also expressed her frustration with comments by toxic fans on social media and in Madison Square Garden, where she often watches games with their son, Kyden. Knick fans – the most passionate supporters of all fanbases – let the entire Randle family hear about his poor play and effort the entire season.
We must remember that these players are human, and very few of us can relate to their experiences. While we deserve good effort from our hometown team, fans must also be more patient and forgiving with our players, who face a world of pressure night after night. The booing is one thing, but attacking a player’s family is out of line. Keep it on the court, as we say at Knicks Fan TV.
It’s not easy playing here in New York City. Even our captain Patrick Ewing spoke out about the way Knick fans treated his teams. The thumbs down was the boiling point of frustration with the fans. However, Randle professionally apologized for his actions afterward, and he reaffirmed to everyone that he was still committed to being with the organization. He deserves the fresh start of a new season to regain form and (re)prove himself as a player and a leader for this team, and fans should give him that opportunity.
2021 Randle might have been his peak as a player. And that’s fine – no one even expected that from him anyway. But there is still room for him to be a solid #2 option alongside RJ Barrett.
This upcoming season should serve as a prove-it year for Randle, but the front office has more pressure on them to fill some holes. This team needs a point guard, and they should also search for a big or versatile wing who can space the floor, enabling both Barrett and Randle to get to the basket more often without Robinson, Sims, or Noel clogging the paint. If they find these, watch out. Another playoff berth could be on the way.
So step back from the NBA Trade Machine, Knick fans, and give Randle another chance to prove he can be a crucial piece to another winning season.
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