Breaking news:5 star from 76ers seriously considering moving to Knicks..
Breaking news:5 star from 76ers seriously considering moving to Knicks..
Is that enough for two players who couldn’t come off the court for a team that came only one victory away from the conference finals just a few months ago?
Ultimately, the Knicks employ too many good players. The horror! And it’s another reason why the perceived hole at backup center might not be as big of a deal as it appears at first glance. Bring in a center who deserves 20 minutes behind Robinson, and Hart or DiVincenzo could be the collateral damage.
Injuries, foul trouble and general happenings of the NBA season will present more playing time for those guys as the year progresses. But what’s clear from this exercise is the Knicks have quite a different vibe from the one they exuded during their short-handed playoff run this past spring. Players will need to sacrifice.
Based on your reporting and knowledge of the NBA, what is Randle’s trade value at this very moment before a potential contract extension? Either in player compensation, matching salary plus draft pick compensation or a mix of both. (For what it’s worth, I do not favor trading Randle. — George G.
Here’s what makes discussions about hypothetical Randle trades so difficult: I don’t believe there is a team in the NBA that would value the three-time All-Star more than the Knicks do.
I texted this question to someone who works in a rival team’s front office and received an answer I expected: “Neutral, at best,” the person said.
Randle’s contract is fair. He makes $28.9 million this season and can become a free agent next summer. But the fear of having to pay him, especially when his skill set makes him such a specific fit, makes it difficult to find suitors willing to give up any package that would be worth it for the Knicks.
As I’ve reported already, there is no indication the Knicks are trying to trade Randle, which means it’s difficult to gather a true gauge of his market. So to break this down further, let’s travel to New Orleans, where the Pelicans are dealing with a similar, real-life situation.
The Pelicans have fielded offers on their All-Star wing Brandon Ingram, who is three years younger than Randle, has been an All-Star and has averaged more than 20 points in five consecutive seasons. But months into the offseason, they haven’t been able to find any viable suitors.
Ingram, a lanky, 6-foot-8 wing, is a free agent after this season and is hoping for a significant raise next summer. He’s a specific fit, too, even though he’s stylistically different from Randle. He doesn’t shoot enough 3s to threaten defenses while spacing away from the ball. He’s best with the rock in his hands and is an underrated passer (not many players have the size and vision to toss the cross-court dishes he does), but his presence doesn’t guarantee a high-voltage attack.
Teams are worried about what happens when Ingram’s contract is up. Do they want to pay $40 million a year for him? Or maybe more? He makes $36 million this season. Thus, there hasn’t been much action on him, even with New Orleans making it clear to the rest of the league that it is down to make a deal.
