In some ways, the 2021-2022 NBA trade deadline seems like a lifetime ago. Just a few short months ago, the New York Knicks were hopeful that an infusion of talent at the deadline would set the franchise back on their projected path to the postseason.
Of course, the Knicks surprisingly allowed the trade deadline to come and go without making any notable moves. New York, unfortunately, missed the postseason and failed to make the annual play-in tournament this season.
New York Knicks need to revisit the Julius Randle-De’Aaron Fox trade talks
While the club turns their attention to the draft, Leon Rose and company must consider how to reshape a roster that lacked any true identity in 2021. Perhaps, a rumored trade with the Sacramento Kings that would have sent former All-Star Julius Randle to the West Coast in exchange for former top-five pick De’Aaron Fox.
Here are several key questions as we consider whether this potential trade is worth revisiting:
What would the deal look like?
A straight Randle for Fox trade would not matchup up salary-wise. So, how about this adjustment?
The move nets both franchises a fresh start as they move off their former franchise players. While parting with Alec Burks would be a difficult decision, the swap of him and Trey Lyles would save New York over $7 million.
This almost perfectly offsets the difference between Randles’ $21.8 million deal (per season average) and Fox’s $28.1 million contract (per season).