The New York Knicks don’t have to worry about the play-in tournament but instead are tasked with preparing for an offseason full of endless possibilities.
Since the loss against Atlanta last Tuesday ended New York’s postseason hopes, fans have gotten to enjoy seeing more of players like Obi Toppin and Jericho Sims on the court. With the dismal year that the Knicks have had, it’s important to enjoy the small victories.
There’s always next season, right? We’ve all heard that one before, but before 2022-23 comes, New York has to make it through the summer first. The upcoming offseason has the potential to bring happiness to the Knicks, but also heartbreak.
It’s good to be prepared for what could happen in the future and hopefully, that’s what New York’s front office is doing at this point in the year. Let’s look ahead to the coming months to get an idea of what’s to come.
4 possible offseason scenarios New York Knicks must prepare for.
4: Julius Randle wanting out
It was only a year ago when Julius Randle led the Knicks to the playoffs shortly after being named an All-Star for the first time in his career. This season, things have taken a complete 180.
In the 69 games that he’s played in, he’s averaged 20.3 points, 10 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 3.4 turnovers. Randle’s shooting 41.3% from the floor (down from 45.6% last year) and 30.7% from the 3-point line (down from 41.1%).
New York’s fanbase is fiercely loyal but is also quick to call out a player for their poor performance. That’s been the case with Randle, who responded to being booed by fans at Madison Square Garden by telling them to “shut the f*** up” with a thumbs-down gesture.
Those same fans have been calling for the Knicks to trade Randle this season, just 12 months after they were praising him for leading New York to the first round of the playoffs.
Will Julius Randle be traded from the New York Knicks during the offseason?
He signed a four-year, $117 million contract extension with the Knicks last summer, and given his inconsistencies this year, it’s hard to envision a situation where another team would be willing to take that on. That doesn’t mean that it can’t happen, though.
I can’t speak for Randle, but if there’s even the slightest chance that he wants to play elsewhere, the front office should explore possible trades. It’s been speculated that he’d play better in a smaller market and that could be the case.
I believe that Randle still has value, but also I don’t think that it’d be awful if New York were to trade him. The move would fit the future of the Knicks’ young roster and it’d give Toppin a chance to spend more time on the court. And in the end, maybe Randle would be happier and perform better elsewhere.