Would this trade make sense for the New York Knicks?
This trade may seem a bit clunky for the New York Knicks for two reasons – Julius Randle is probably the better player right now, and this trade would leave them a bit weak at the forward position. But all-in-all, both of those could be spun into positives.
First off, while Randle is a bit better than Randle, three’s an argument that the fit isn’t as good. With how poorly he’s shooting and how much he dominates the ball, having a dynamic guard like Russell might be better for them. Those 7.0 assists would be huge in New York.
Plus, this trade would give the Knicks a great opportunity – giving RJ Barrett the keys. Barrett has shown flashes of greatness since he’s had the ball in his hands more. Trading Randle for a better point guard would almost certainly help Barrett thrive.
As for the forward position, this trade would also give the Knicks a chance to give Obi Toppin an extended look. He’s been a lot better this year. Past that, they could run Barrett at the small-ball four and/or run double bigs with Taj Gibson.
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This trade may not seem like an upgrade for the Knicks, but at the very least it would shake things up. And as mentioned, it would give Barrett more room to be the top guy in New York. Throw in a defensive-minded Josh Okogie and a first-round pick, and this trade isn’t too bad.
