NY Knicks: 3 teams that could trade for Julius Randle
1: New Orleans Pelicans
I don’t know this to be a fact, but I’d assume that New Orleans holds a small spot in Randle’s heart because after the Lakers opted to not bring him back after his rookie contract expired, one of the only teams that came calling was the Pelicans.
He only spent one season in The Big Easy, but one could argue that the year he spent there was the second-best statistical season of his career behind his All-Star campaign last year. Plus, New Orleans is doing some big things right now, even without star Zion Williamson.
They made a blockbuster deal at the trade deadline for CJ McCollum and it has seemingly turned their season around. They’re currently the ninth seed in the West and are looking to compete in the play-in tournament. No matter who they face, I know they’re going to be a tough out.
Now, in order for them to trade for Randle, they’d have to be parting ways with Williamson. The two wouldn’t be able to co-exist on the court at the same time.
Randle would instantly form a three-headed monster with McCollum and Brandon Ingram and would be a serious force in the West. If you get that team a star point guard, they could be a top-10 team in the league.
One of the more under-the-radar upsides of this union would be the frontcourt pairing of Randle and Jonas Valanciunas. There aren’t many centers in the league who I think would fit better next to him than the seven-foot big man.
Valanciunas is one of the best rebounders in the league, but he also commands the defense’s attention from wherever he is on the floor. That’d help create more space for Randle to drive and dish.
This option is probably the least likely to happen because of what the Pelicans would have to part ways with in the deal, but then again, it could be the most viable option for both sides if Williamson demands a trade this summer.
