New York Knicks: 3 players that must be traded away
1. Julius Randle
It is true that a big portion of the Knicks’ fans were quite upset on draft night with the selection of Obi Toppin instead of Tyrese Haliburton. Now that they’ve had a chance to re-think things, fans are beginning to like the thought of that draft pick resulting in Julius Randle potentially leaving the team.
The front office seems to have a ton of confidence in Toppin’s game and could look to start him right away. As a result, Randle might get unsettled by this decision and demand a move away from New York, granting Knicks fans an early Christmas wish.
It’s not that Randle is a bad NBA player. In fact, his numbers reflect those of a borderline NBA All-Star. The reason he is so unwanted is that his contribution does not mirror the value of his contract, which is approximately $20 million annually.
Watching Obi Toppin videos makes me appreciate just how terrible Julius Randle is at managing double-teams. If you're gonna spin, spin AWAY from the help, my guy!
— Joseph Flynn (@chinajoeflynn.bsky.social) (@ChinaJoeFlynn) November 23, 2020
His shooting percentages have dropped significantly when compared to his breakout 2018-19 campaign, and the fact that he is a defensive liability only exacerbates Mitchell Robinson’s fouling issues.
Randle is about to enter his prime and his trade value might be at the highest it’ll ever be. For the Knicks, trading Randle would mean cashing in on a great value while simultaneously offering Toppin the starting power forward spot without too much competition and locker room trouble.
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