4 star players Knicks might have to give up in possible Donovan Mitchell trade
1: Julius Randle
Out of the aforementioned players, a Randle trade (to any team) seems to be the most likely. And not because he’d provide the most to the Jazz, but instead because his actions this past year didn’t exactly scream “I love New York!”
The 27-year-old’s maintained his position that he wants to stay with the Knicks, but the fanbase might not want to stay with him. That’s why his name was greeted with boos in the starting lineup.
Although Randle’s 2021-22 season was disappointing, he still averaged 20.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. He has value, but opposing front offices could feel weary about possibly taking on his contract.
His four-year, $117 million extension is set to kick in at the start of the 2022-23 season. As it’s been speculated, playing for a smaller market team could help Randle to build his reputation back up. While that sentiment applies to Utah, the Jazz don’t have a reason to take on his contract.
What if Randle’s downfall continues? That’s a legitimate concern. Perhaps if this type of scenario were to happen, a third team would be looped in. There’s a lot of speculation about a situation that’s still completely unknown and could very well end up never happening.
It goes without saying that Utah would rather have Barrett over Randle, but if Randle and Mitchell were to express any sense of unhappiness this summer, this scenario could end up becoming a reality. It’d involve more than Randle though.
New York’s assets could be used to bring a player like Mitchell to the Knicks, but the question is… Would it be worth it?
