We are early in the NBA season. So, we shouldn’t be making sweeping judgments. At the same time, we can look at larger trends. In the context of the last several seasons, teams could be having concerns about what’s unfolded in 2023-24 so far.
For example, take the New York Knicks. Julius Randle is having a tremendously difficult season so far. That’s fine – again, the season has barely started. Unfortunately, Randle has seemingly struggled every other year for a while now. He was fantastic last season. So, in theory, he’s due for a down year.
So far, he’s lived up to those expectations. The Knicks had better hope Randle improved his play. Otherwise, they won’t be likely to replicate their success in 2022-23. Unless they replace him, that is.
Could they acquire Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors to do exactly that?
NBA Trade Proposal — New York Knicks Land Pascal Siakam
Toronto Raptors Receive: G/F RJ Barrett, G/F Evan Fournier, 2024 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2026 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2028 First-Round Pick (NYK)
New York Knicks Receive: F/C Pascal Siakam, F Otto Porter Jr.
With that said, we shouldn’t even make too much of Randle’s early struggles. Yes, this has been a trend. Randle was incredible in 2020-21, abysmal in 2021-22, and bounced back last year. Is that enough to confirm that a trend is meaningful?
No. It could be a coincidence. It wouldn’t be logical to assume that Randle is going to fluctuate between having good and bad seasons for the rest of his career. That is not the point here.
The point is that Randle is inconsistent. When his three-ball is dropping, he can be one of the most impactful playmaking forwards in the NBA.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks Updates
When it isn’t, he can be woefully inefficient and a net negative for his team. The Knicks may want a star who they can rely on more easily. Is Siakam the answer?
Why The New York Knicks Do The Deal
We think so. This isn’t necessarily a no-brainer for the Knicks. They’re not directly replacing Randle here – he’d still be on the roster following this deal. How will the Knicks keep both Siakam and Randle on the roster?
We’re not sure. It’s also not necessarily a concern. The Knicks could play jumbo ball by playing Randle and Siakam at the 4 and 3. Alternatively, they could play Siakam at the five and go wing-heavy.
That would alienate Mitchell Robinson, but it’s looked as if he may already feel alienated. That brings us to the main point: after the Knicks make this deal, they’d have to make another deal.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks Updates
They may move Robinson, or they may move Randle. Either way, Siakam is the best player in this bunch. He’s a stronger defender than Randle and a much more dynamic offensive player than Robinson.
By pairing him with Jalen Brunson, the Knicks should become a better team – and in a more sustainable way. Should the Raptors help them sustain their success?
Why The Toronto Raptors Do The Deal
The Knicks would have a logjam of forwards following this deal. The Raptors have that logjam now. Siakam and Scottie Barnes feel redundant, and Barnes is the future of this team. Meanwhile, O.G. Anunoby is still in the mix as well.
So, the Raptors should make a move. It feels like Siakam is the right player to send away. He’s the oldest out of the group, and Anunoby is a perfect compeimentary piece for any team.
Meanwhile, the Raptors have been disappointing for a couple of years. Unless they go on a hot streak in 2023-24, they should look to rebuild.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks Updates
That’s what they’re doing here. Adding Barrett is intriguing – he could play the 2 for a team that seems to prioritize positional size. Yet, the main point here is to land a trio of unprotected first-round picks. The Raptors should be considering a move like this one. It may be early in the season now, but soon, it could be too late.
