Ok. I look super dumb now. I could not feel more ashamed of myself.
I’ve definitely discussed the idea of trading Julius Randle to the highest bidder a while ago and I’m definitely regretting it.
Over the course of the last 2 months, Julius Randle has elevated his game to new heights that nobody ever saw coming. He’s certainly in contention for the Most Improved Player award, looking like a surefire all-star caliber player, and is currently leading the charge as, by far and away, the New York Knicks’ best player. The Knicks currently sit in the 6th seed in the eastern conference standings and are only 3 games out of 3rd place. The teams above them (Boston and Indiana) at 4 and 5 are only separated from the Knicks by half a game.
Not only do the Knicks have a relatively easy schedule upcoming over the next few weeks but they also have a game against Indiana on February 27th, whom they beat in their last matchup, where if the Knicks were to win again it would further propel them up the in Eastern Conference standings.
Had the Knicks traded their star, Julius Randle, would they still be vying for a playoff spot?
There has been an absolute litany of trade ideas that have swirled around the internet between the month before last season’s trading deadline all the way up until before this most recent pre-season.
Supposedly, before the Steve Mills firing, there was a swap on the table where Charlotte would acquire Julius Randle and New York would receive Terry Rozier in return. While Rozier has been having himself one heck of a season so far over in North Carolina, he’s producing at nowhere near the same level as Randle has so far through 29 games (as this is being written).
I no longer want to imagine a world where Julius Randle is not wearing orange and blue and playing in Madison Square Garden. It would be an absolute atrocity of the highest proportion. Could anyone imagine how bad the Knicks would be right now if Randle wasn’t doing what he’s doing?
At this point, I could definitely see Julius Randle being the 2nd or 3rd best player on a championship-contending team, so it would be wise for the Knicks to continue building around Julius Randle and finding players that play well alongside him. In an absolute dream scenario, assuming Bradley Beal isn’t dealt elsewhere, I’d love to see the Knicks facilitate a trade for him and possibly sign Kawhi Leonard away from the Clippers after they’re bounced in the Western Conference Finals by the Lakers. I think New York City would explode if that were to ever happen.
A boy can dream…..