Draft Night Wheelin’ and Dealin’
One of the biggest questions of the offseason for the Knicks centers around the team’s future with Randle. It was the very first question I alluded to on slide one. This decision will dictate seemingly everything else that happens.
On the one hand, there is an apparent unmendable fracture between Randle and the fanbase’s large, vocal portion. It also appears that the basketball pairing of Randle and Barrett is untenable without some other significant overhauls to the roster and play style. But, on the other hand, it’s bad business to treat a player you extended last summer like a distressed asset.
Couple the idea of maximizing Randle’s trade value with the reports that the team is highly interested in moving up to acquire Jaden Ivey, and you have the makings of the first major move of the offseason.
When I proposed this trade on Twitter, people told me that all three teams were both paying too much and not giving up enough. Translation: This must be a fairly even trade. New York would move on from Randle and get to move up in the draft for its trouble. Randle goes to a team with a legitimate number one option for him to support. The Kings move back three spots but add a starting-caliber wing for their troubles.
One key note about this trade: This trade cannot be finalized until the new league year begins on July 1st for the salaries to work, so on draft night, each team will still pick in their current slot, but they will be drafting for another team.
Sacramento will then use the fourth overall pick to draft Ivey for the Knicks. The team adds a 20-year-old that NBADraft.net compared to Anthony Edwards and Donovan Mitchell. He’s a combo guard with the length to be a defensive threat who flourishes in transition.
I have the Knicks taking Jaylin Williams with the 42nd pick. This selection might be a bit of a stretch as I’ve seen him recently mocked in the first round. I’ve also seen him mocked as low as 45. If he’s available at 42, the Knicks would add a versatile defensive big who is also a sneaky good playmaker.
The other added bonus of moving Randle using the model above is some additional cap space. If you factor in all the potential cap holds, trade exceptions, and players currently on the roster, the Knicks would enter free agency with approximately $10.51 million in spending money.
How might they use it?