The New York Knicks need to embrace the youth movement by trading veterans like Julius Randle and Evan Fournier. The Knicks have a few options when it comes to moving these guys, especially Randle, but there is one trade that sticks out most.
An article recently posted on Daily Knicks proposed two Julius Randle trades, and I am a big fan of the second trade involving the Los Angeles LeBrons, I mean Lakers. I think this would be a perfect deal for both teams, but we’re going to focus on the Knicks here because I do not get paid by Lake Show Life, so they can read this article and talk about it or not, I really don’t care. Also, the Lakers gave away Carmelo Anthony’s number, so they get no love.
This Julius Randle trade is the best option for the Knicks
Honestly, I root for the Lakers every game they play as long as it is not against the Knicks. I am obsessed with LeBron James and think about him multiple times a day, plus having Melo helped, as all real Knicks fans root for wherever No. 7 goes. This trade makes a ton of sense for both teams, as I have watched both extensively.
The Lakers receiving Randle and Fournier would give them more talent off the rip, which they need because with no picks and LeBron being 37, they’re in full win-now mode. That’s all for them, so let’s get into why New York should do this trade.
I know that a lot of you hear the name Russell Westbrook and your first instinct is to listen to social media and follow the trend of it being “cool” to hate on one of the top five point guards in NBA history… weirdos.
Obviously, this trade is not made for the Knicks to get Westbrook. In this scenario, New York would buy the triple-double GOAT out and let him walk to a contender where he would look to bounce back. Westbrook hired agent Jeff Schwartz, who is a master at facilitating buyouts, so a Westbrook trade/buyout would be inevitable.
The Knicks, in this trade, would get two first-round picks from the Lakers, a 2027 first-rounder and a 2029 first-rounder. I think that it is wishful thinking to get both, but LA really does not have leverage.
Let’s even say that the Knicks would only get one of the Lakers’ first-rounders. It most likely will be very valuable. It is hard to imagine LeBron still playing in 2029, as much as I hope that he will still be the man in the arena. LeBron does not care about these picks, and LA should trade them to build as much of a contender as possible around the King.
In the aftermath of the Donovan Mitchell saga, the Knicks will move forward with their young players and add on to their assets while cutting salaries, so they will have even more assets to make a trade. We all know another star is going to hit the market soon, as that is how the new NBA is.
For New York, this trade would free up minutes for the young players, make the cap space more flexible, and add assets. Los Angeles would get a well above-average shooter in Evan Fournier and also land Julius Randle, who, if he can bounce back, would give the Lakers a nasty frontcourt.
This trade would be a major win for the Knicks in every possible way. It’s so good that it would even be worth it if the Lakers were only willing to part with one first-rounder. Most importantly, it would allow for the Knicks to let the young kids play, which is really what matters at this stage of the game.
It’s the RJ Barrett era. Time to embrace it with open arms, eh?
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