Blockbuster Trade Proposal Sends Julius Randle to Mavericks
Trade rumors will surround Julius Randle until he secures a contract extension with the New York Knicks. He can become eligible for a four-year, $181.5 million deal on August 3.
Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report suggests the Knicks trade Randle to the Dallas Mavericks in a significant deal.
**Dallas receives:** Julius Randle
**New York receives:** P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Jaden Hardy, 2025 second-round pick (via Toronto Raptors), 2028 second-round pick (via Miami Heat)
Swartz sees Gafford as a valuable addition to the Knicks’ center rotation.
“The Knicks need another center with Hartenstein gone, a role Gafford (11.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 72.5 percent shooting) can fill as a starter or reserve. Washington (12.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 0.8 blocks) is a solid rotation forward, and Hardy, 22, adds scoring potential off the bench.”
Washington would replace Randle, and Hardy has more potential than his current stats suggest.
Last season, the 22-year-old averaged 7.3 points in 13.5 minutes per game, translating to 19.3 points per 36 minutes.
Why Would Dallas Pursue Randle?
Dallas experienced a gentleman’s sweep in the NBA Finals, losing four games to one against the Boston Celtics. They were outmatched in almost every area.
To return to the Finals, the Mavericks need to revamp their roster. They have made some free agency moves, adding veterans Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall.
But is this enough to surpass the Celtics? If not, they have the resources for a major trade.
Randle could significantly boost their title chances. Last season, Dallas struggled with rebounding, averaging only 42.9 per game, ranking 22nd in the league.
Midseason trades for Gafford and Washington helped, but didn’t solve the issue. Dallas improved to 44.1 rebounds per game for the last 27 games, ranking 11th among all teams.
Randle would provide a versatile rebounding threat. He averaged the third-most rebounds among players 6-foot-9 and shorter, according to Stathead.
Why Would the Knicks Trade Randle?
Randle was the face of New York basketball before Jalen Brunson’s arrival. However, he has missed time in consecutive postseasons due to injury and is up for an extension on August 3.
With the additions of OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, the Knicks have almost too many starters. Donte DiVincenzo, who set the franchise record for most 3-pointers in a season last year, is likely headed to the bench.
A frontcourt pairing of Randle and Mitchell Robinson hasn’t been successful since 2019. In 1,140 possessions with both on the floor last season, New York outscored opponents by 2.3 points per 100 possessions. In 2,148 possessions with Randle on the floor and Robinson off, that number jumped to 9 points per 100 possessions.
The absence of Hartenstein could be a significant loss for New York. In 3,816 possessions with him off the floor, the Knicks were outscored by 0.7 points per 100 possessions. This may seem small, but their offensive and defensive rankings were mediocre.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau’s reluctance to use small-ball lineups is a concern for next season’s plan. Non-center lineups played just 32 possessions last season, a mere 0.004%.
The Knicks aim to be title contenders next season. Any trade that improves their center rotation and adds assets should be considered beneficial.
Leave a Reply