After a disastrous season in which he could have obtained the trophies of Most Regressed Player and of Worst Teammate of the Year, Julius Randle logically found himself in the departure rumors. However, since the beginning of the Free Agency, the name of position 4 of the Knicks has finally not been mentioned so much as that. Guess what ? It is now done.
It’s no secret to absolutely anyone: the future of Julius Randle at the Knicks seems to have been compromised for several months. After a season statistically below his previous campaign – 20.1 points on 41.1% shooting including 30.8% from long range – and a highly questionable attitude on and off the pitch, hardly anyone was considering in April last, when New York ended the 2021-2022 financial year in 11th place, that the strong winger could start the following season under the same colors. Inevitable, the rupture could therefore definitely take place thanks to… Donovan Mitchell. Indeed, according to Marc Stein, the arrival of the Jazz guard in the Big Apple could unblock a situation so far quite sterile. Unable to afford to earn the salaries of Spida and Randle at the same time, the Knicks would like to transfer the latter in order to make room in the cap space. One of the possible destinations for Don Julio would then be Los Angeles, where a certain Russell Westbrook could act as a (big) bargaining chip. However, be careful: Marc Stein makes it clear that the management of New York is not interested in associating Russ with Donovan. The objective is clear: to make room financially. This is why a buyout would be negotiated with the nine-time All-Star, who would be free to negotiate a new contract elsewhere.
When you click the link it is all there: The scenario below is NOT because anyone thinks the Knicks want to add Russ to their backcourt … it stems from the idea they may want to shed salary elsewhere on the roster (depending on what else is included) IF they can add Mitchell. https://t.co/3STiNLQGe1
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 18, 2022
As a reminder, Julius Randle will be entering the first year of his four-year, $117 million contract. An amount incompatible with the signing of Jalen Brunson, the re-signing of Mitchell Robinson and current contracts such as those of Evan Fournier or Derrick Rose. Having activated his player option at 47 million dollars, the arrival of Russell Westbrook could therefore free up a large part of cap space for the purpose of paying wages elsewhere. We inevitably think of RJ Barrett, who this year has clearly taken Randle’s place in the hearts of New York fans, and who could reach around 125 million over five years. One thing is certain, the MIP 2021 will undoubtedly feel better in LA than in New York. Drafted by the Angelinos in 2014, the latter played the first four seasons of his career there, before flying to the Pelicans of a certain… Anthony Davis. More than a simple transfer, it would therefore be a return to the fold for Julius, who could then try to revive himself in a role very different from his at the Knicks. But the Lakers would still have to agree to let Westbrook go against a package that is not built around Kyrie Irving, Rob Pelinka’s top priority. Because the Nets are clear: to possibly transfer Kyrie to Los Angeles, it will be necessary to include a third team capable of accommodating the contract of Russell Westbrook, that Brooklyn does not want to support. Would involving New York and Utah in a blockbuster trade with four franchises be a possible solution? For the moment, nothing leads in this direction. But if we think about it, then GMs have already thought about it.
If it is complicated enough to say how Julius Randle could fit in this Lakers team from which we do not know what to expect, his transfer would be a good thing for the guy, who clearly needs a new start to get his ideas back in place.
Source text: Marc Stein