The transition into 2022-23 has been surprisingly positive for fans of the New York Knicks. After a disastrous 2021-2022 campaign that fell well short of expectations, the club appears to have reverted back to the 2020-2021 team that made the postseason.
Coach Thibodeau appears to be off the hot seat (at least for now). Newcomer Jalen Brunson is in the midst of an All-Star like season. And, perhaps most notably, team leader Julius Randle appears to have recaptured his All-Star form.
All this has combined to thrust New York into a 24-19 record and the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. As the season progresses, the franchise is on track to return to the postseason, possibly even avoiding the dreaded play-in tournament.
Should Knicks consider trading star Julius Randle while his value is high?
This context makes the article title seem odd. Why would the Knicks consider trading their best player in the midst of a playoff push? It’s not as though postseason appearances grow on trees around MSG. There have been precious few such seasons in recent memory. Making the field would be a huge deal!
Yet, the question remains… Is now the perfect time to begin a seismic shift in the direction of the franchise by placing Randle on the trade block? Let’s take a look at four reasons the Knicks should seriously consider moving off their star forward.