New York Knicks Receive: G Kemba Walker
Boston Celtics Receive: F/C Julius Randle, G Frank Ntilikina, NYK 2024 1st Round Pick
While they did sign Tristan Thompson this offseason, the Boston Celtics have long been needing a reliable center in their frontcourt, which is exactly what they would be getting with a guy like Julius Randle. Not only is he only 26-years old, but he is having the best year of his career and on-track to be an All-Star for the first time in his career.
Early on this season, Julius Randle has single-handedly given the New York Knicks hope this season and while R.J. Barrett is the future of their organization, Randle is the now and is earning every bit of his $18.9M contract this season. Through 18 games this season, Randle is averaging 22.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists and shooting 47.3% from the floor, 34.8% from three-point range.
Randle looks like a completely different player than he has early in his career and is definitely the type of player the Celtics need to match up against the likes of the Bucks, Nets and 76ers in the Eastern Conference.
Frank Ntilikina is also an intriguing young guard who could fit in well in Boston. Ntilikina is a young french point guard for the Knicks who has not really seen his role increase through the years. Since being drafted 8th overall in 2017, Ntilikina has struggled to solidify himself as a key piece to the Knicks young core and as a result, he could be a player they look to trade at some point this year.
Given his length and athleticism, the 22-year old point guard still has plenty of potential to grow into a solid player for the right team. With Boston, he could end up being an excellent young player off-the-bench.
Kemba Walker, even though he missed the first month-and-a-half of the 2020-21 season, still holds tremendous value on the open market and is the All-Star talent the Knicks need. Believe it or not, they are very much in the hunt in being a playoff team in the Eastern Conference and with Kemba leading them, the Knicks could make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
Let’s take a closer look at why both the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks would want to make this trade and what each team truly gets out of this trade.
