New York Knicks
New York Knicks Receive: G Russell Westbrook, G/F Troy Brown Jr., 2023 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2027 First-Round Pick (LAL)
Miami Heat Receive: F Julius Randle, G/F Evan Fournier
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G Kyle Lowry, G Derrick Rose, G/F Duncan Robinson
On the other hand, sometimes you get sold short for the deal you didn’t end up making.
The New York Knicks were widely expected to land Donovan Mitchell via trade this summer. Instead, he’ll be joining the Cleveland Cavaliers. Having not acquired the star, could the Knicks be enticed to continue stockpiling draft capital instead?
Meanwhile, the win-now Heat shouldn’t have a need to hang onto theirs. Moreover, they’ve got a vacancy at the 4 with P.J. Tucker leaving in free agency. Granted, Randle isn’t the perfect replacement: he’s not nearly as strong on defense, and his three-point shooting is less consistent.
On the other hand, he’s a much stronger and more well-rounded offensive player. If Randle’s three-point shooting rounds out to his career-high levels, he could make the Heat better in 2022-23.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers & New York Knicks Updates
Finally, some will object to this deal for the Lakers. They just landed Patrick Beverley – how many guards do they need? We’d counter with this answer: at least three.
In all likelihood, the Lakers would start Lowry and Beverley after this trade. Rose is the most dynamic playmaker of the group, so he’d be best suited for sixth-man duties.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers & New York Knicks Updates
For what it’s worth, the arrangement would leave Lonnie Walker IV and Austin Reaves out of the picture. That feels like a low-level concern for a contending team, but if the Lakers would rather diversify their portfolio, the next two deals may suit them more.
