Why The Charlotte Hornets Do The Deal 

Frankly, Randle is not a perfect replacement for Bridges. 

To begin with, he’s significantly less athletic. In fact, Bridges is one of the most impressive run-and-jump athletes in the NBA. Randle is slow and prodding by comparison. At the same time, he’s got advantages over Bridges even if his shooting never returns to form. 

Primarily, those advantages come in the half-court. Randle is a more polished ball handler than Bridges, and he’s a craftier passer. All told, he’s a better playmaker. Moreover, Bridges was not an efficient three-point shooter over the course of his breakout 2021-22 season either. 

To be sure, this is a risk. The Hornets are taking on a long-term contract at the expense of three shorter-term ones. Moreover, both Washington and Thor are players with real potential.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Julius Randle, New York Knicks & Charlotte Hornets Updates

At the same time, if Randle can prove that 2020-21 was no fluke, he and Ball could become one of the most dynamic duos in the NBA. 

That sounds like a risk worth taking. Should the Knicks really risk watching Randle return to form for a conference rival?