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.
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.
2021-2022 campaign</a> that fell well short of expectations, the club appears to have reverted back to the 2020-2021 team that made the postseason.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<h2>Should Knicks consider trading star Julius Randle while his value is high?</h2>
<p>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!</p>
<p>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.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/01/14/4-reasons-knicks-consider-trading-julius-randle-value-high/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Julius Randle's value </a>
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give up assets</a> to reunite with Randle and give LeBron James another co-star to lighten the load? Would Dallas be wise to add a scorer to help take some of the regular season load off of superstar Luka Doncic? Are the Suns in need of help as they seek to return to the NBA Finals? How committed to the postseason are fringe teams like the Trail Blazers, Kings, Bulls, Wizards, Raptors, etc?</p>
<p>I am confident a trade partner exists that would offer the Knicks a worthwhile package.</p>
<h3>The Ultimate Goal</h3>
<p>The questions remain on the table. Is Randle a piece of a postseason puzzle? Or is he a potential stumbling block?</p>
<p>Now is a good time to consider the overall vision and direction of the franchise. I mentioned before that playoff berths are not common in the club’s recent history. There is undoubtedly value in becoming a consistent postseason contender.</p>
<p>However, the ultimate goal (as far off as it may seem) is for New York to win an NBA Championship. The team should guard against the temptation to put too much stock into a No. 4 seed, a playoff win, and an exit to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.</p>
<p>Julius Randle has proven he can elevate the franchise into the tier of first-round contenders. But is he a championship piece? Barring the acquisition of a bonafide superstar, the evidence leans toward the answer being no.</p>
<p>Placing their star on the trade block opens the possibility for a bidding war or an overzealous ownership bid littered with draft picks or young talent. As painful as punting on a potential playoff berth might seem, hitting the reset button could be the first step toward trending in a championship direction.</p>
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