Why This Trade Makes Sense For The New York Knicks

While Julius Randle is playing the best basketball of his career, the New York Knicks have to make a choice sooner than later about his future with this organization. He is under contract this season and then for the 2021-22 season, his contract is partially-guaranteed for $4M, making him a prime trade target for many teams around the league.

His value is not going to get any higher than it is now and if the Knicks do not see a future with Randle being involved long-term, they need to trade him now to get the most out of him. Getting a player like Gary Harris and another first-round draft pick in 2022 could be extremely beneficial, especially since this team’s main goal is to build a team through the draft. 

They have done a good job in doing so through the years, as they drafted R.J. Barrett 3rd overall in 2019 and Obi Toppin 7th overall this past year, but still need some more, highly-talented players. The ultimate goal of the Knicks is to add an NBA All-Star level talent, which is why acquiring a guy like Gary Harris is important. 

Harris is under contract through the 2021-22 season and is owed $19.1M this season and $20.5M next season. He is a guy that could easily be packaged in a deal to acquire an NBA All-Star level talent for New York and is a more intriguing option for teams since he is a “3-and-D’ backcourt player, as opposed to Julius Randle being a frontcourt threat. 

Unfortunately, the Knicks are not going to be a playoff team once again this year, which is why they have to do everything they can to set themselves up for success next year and for years to come with a young core. This trade gives them the ability to do so and they can free up a little more cap space in the process in their efforts to bring an NBA All-Star to New York.