The Dallas Mavericks just made it to the NBA Finals, but there is no question that they still have some holes that need plugging.
One particular area in which the Mavericks need to improve is frontcourt scoring, and Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz may have the answer: New York Knicks big man Julius Randle.
“Bringing Randle, a Dallas, Texas, native, home would represent a huge get in terms of overall talent for a franchise that just reached the NBA Finals,” Swartz wrote.
Indeed it would.
Randle may not be a legitimate No. 1 option on a serious contender, but he would not asked to fill that role in Dallas. Instead, he would be the Mavericks’ tertiary scorer behind Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Of course, the cost to acquire Randle may be extravagant, as the Knicks don’t seem to want to part ways with him. However, New York may not be left with any other choice.
NBA RUMORS & NEWS: Dallas Mavericks Updates
Randle is entering the final year of his deal and is due for a massive contract extension, which could end up crippling the Knicks moving forward. Jalen Brunson did just take a huge pay cut to stay in New York, which could make re-signing Randle to a long-term deal more palatable.
But no matter how you slice it, the Knicks may have a tough time retaining Randle, which may ultimately force them to trade the fan favorite.
How good would the Dallas Mavericks be with Julius Randle?
The thing with Randle is that he is very talented, but represents a rather difficult fit on most teams.
Randle’s lack of defensive versatility makes him tough to slide into many lineups, although the Mavericks could probably stand to put him alongside of Dereck Lively up front.
His lack of consistency from three-point range is also an issue, as Randle shot 30.8 percent, 34.3 percent and 31.1 percent from distance, respectively, over the last three seasons.
Yes, opponents have to respect his range, especially considering that he once shot 41.1 percent from deep back in 2020-21. But Randle is also not a great perimeter shooter.
On top of that, the 29-year-old is coming off of a significant shoulder injury that required surgery, which may give Dallas some pause in pursuing a trade for him.
Still, the Mavericks obviously need more pieces to get over the hump, so they can afford to take risks.
NBA RUMORS & NEWS: Dallas Mavericks Updates
An offensive trio of Doncic, Irving and Randle definitely sounds tantalizing, although the limited defensive utility of those three players is a bit concerning.
All things considered, the Dallas Mavericks have already added Klay Thompson this offseason. If they are able to bring in another All-Star caliber player in Randle, they will look pretty loaded.
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