Julius Randle Angling For Trade From New York Knicks?

Julius Randle, New York Knicks, NBA Trade Rumors
NBA Analysis Network

It is shocking how quickly things seem to have gone sideways when it comes to Julius Randle and the New York Knicks. Not even a year ago Randle was playing at an All-Star level which earned him a spot on the All-NBA Second Team. He was carrying a Knicks team to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference standings in the process.

Randle reached plateaus statistically that only Larry Bird has ever reached in the history of the NBA. That performance landed him a lucrative contract extension, but it wasn’t a max. He left some money on the table so that the front office could continue upgrading the roster. Everyone seemed to be on the same page, but something happened early in the 2021-22 season that has changed everything.

Randle has experienced regression to the mean this season. No one expected him to have the Herculean efforts he was putting in last season, but the energy and effort levels should have remained the same. His raw statistics of 20.1 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game are matched by only Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, two players squarely in the MVP race.

While it was a discussion Randle’s name was in last season, he isn’t close to the MVP discussion this season. The Knicks are 34-42 on the season and likely missing the postseason. There could be some big changes coming this offseason and Randle being traded could be one of them.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Could Trail Blazers Look To Trade For Knicks’ Julius Randle?

According to the New York Post, some people around the NBA believe the Knicks will look to trade Randle this offseason to find a replacement at the center spot should Mitchell Robinson leave in free agency. They went as far as to say Randle is pulling something similar to what James Harden did when he left the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets.

“Some around the NBA believe Julius Randle is acting in a “James Harden type of way” to suggest he would like to leave the Knicks.

Sources say the lack of leadership from Randle has hurt the New York Knicks this season. One source said Randle sometimes dresses by himself in another area of the locker room.”

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Could Trail Blazers Look To Trade For Knicks’ Julius Randle?

Anyone who has watched the Knicks this season could see something was different when it came to Randle. The spat that he had with the thumbs-down gesture toward the fans was just the tip of the iceberg of what we could see from an outside perspective.

Routinely, Randle is missing assignments defensively or providing a lackadaisical effort. Virtually every player on the team has better offensive and defensive ratings when Randle is off the floor than when he is on the floor. He looks disengaged at times during the game, as his substitutions will routinely break the momentum that the team is building.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Could Trail Blazers Look To Trade For Knicks’ Julius Randle?

At this point in time, it certainly looks like Julius Randle is ready to move on and would like a change of scenery. It is shocking that things have gotten to this point, but if that is what he wants, the New York Knicks need to accommodate him. There is no reason to keep a player around that doesn’t want to be here, especially when someone such as RJ Barrett is waiting in the wings and has shown the ability to be the go-to player for the team.

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