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Knicks Trade Rumors: Latest buzz from around the NBA as of Dec. 27

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 13: Kent Bazemore #24 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 13, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 13: Kent Bazemore #24 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 13, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 18: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors on December 18, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 18: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors on December 18, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Rumor: Lakers, Mavericks Discuss Trade

This may not seem like a rumor that should concern the New York Knicks, but it’s one with intriguing implications. The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers have promising young players whom most around the NBA expect to see walk this coming summer.

In a recent appearance on ESPN’s Full Court Press, NBA rumors guru Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that the Lakers and Mavericks discussed swapping Julius Randle for Nerlens Noel.

Both Noel and Randle have been unable to secure the playing time they expected to, which has inevitably sparked a steady stream of trade rumors.

Randle has been one of the best hybrid bigs in the NBA this season, executing at a high level on both ends of the floor. After the Lakers informed him this offseason that he needed to play harder on defense in order secure more playing time, however, they’ve prioritized offense once again.

Due in large part to the emergence of offensive standout Kyle Kuzma, Randle’s playing time has seemingly included a ceiling.

As for Noel, he’s established himself as one of the most promising young defensive bigs in the NBA. Unfortunately, he’s fallen out of favor with Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle, playing an average of just 12.5 minutes per game in 2017-18.

If the Knicks decide to trade for a young big man with defensive value, then both Noel and Randle could surface on the radar.

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