by Ryan Mercier
Julius Randle is not a popular man in NYC right now (Understatement of the Year Award). He has been beyond disappointing in the postseason and looks like he’s never shot a basketball in his life to start this season.
So here’s a crazy idea. The Knicks target players to bolster their offense while KEEPING Julius Randle. Again, crazy, but here’s why.
Randle has proven, twice, to be an All-NBA caliber player on a winning team in New York. When on his game, he can play like a top-15 star. Mostly, however, the Knicks shouldn’t trade him because no team would want him right now! Why would New York give up a *sometimes* All-NBA asset for nothing? These trade ideas also do not leave the cupboard completely bare in case the never-ending dream of trading for a Mega Star actually becomes a possibility for the Knickerbockers.
Instead, we are putting Quentin Grimes on the bench, and improving the Knicks offensively in the two-guard/small forward spot. Grimes doesn’t deserve this, he’s playing well, but is just the odd man out.
DeMar DeRozan • Chicago Bulls
DeRozan gives the Knicks exactly what they do not have, beyond Jalen Brunson, a professional bucket-getter. He is on an expiring contract, which means the Knicks can acquire him on the cheap.
A starting five of Brunson-DeRozan-RJ Barrett-Randle-Mitchell Robinson has a nice feel to it. Now, maybe this wouldn’t be perfect because DeMar does not provide 3-point spacing, but he would still provide a huge offensive lift.
Making the money work is a little dicey here and the Knicks might have to give up Isaiah Hartenstein to make things happen. Throw in a *just OK* draft pick and the Bulls have incentive to get something instead of nothing for DD.
Oh yeah, Evan Fournier makes almost 19-million dollars a year and will be in almost every single trade. These deals have also been approved in the ever-fun ESPN Trade Machine.
Pascal Siakam • Toronto Raptors
Siakam is off to a rough start in Toronto which, for fun, we’ll assume is due to unhappiness. What cures the blues? Being traded to a new town!
The All-Star forward provides scoring, playmaking, and is at least slightly more of a threat from behind the arc than DeRozan. Not to mention, he actually plays defense.
Starting Five: Brunson-Barrett-Siakam-Randle-Robinson
New York has to give up a beloved figure here to entice the Raptors, Immanuel Quickley. Fournier + Hartenstein + Quickley gets the money to work. The question is if Toronto would want IQ on a potential rental, and what the draft pick compensation would look like here.
Jaden Ivey • Detroit Pistons
Hey Detroit suddenly hates an exciting, lightning bug who tries on defense! Grab him now!
The first two candidates provided proven, veteran experience and scoring. Here, Ivey is a risk but might be well worth it. He has been relegated to the bench in a confusing way for the Pistons. At 21 years old, Ivey still has potential to be an NBA Superstar.
Ivey could take over for Grimes to start or maybe becomes the new main man off the bench. There are many ways this trade could work but for now we’ll assume Detroit likes Quickley and that is essentially the trade. Draft compensation would be an interesting argument here.
Ja Morant • Memphis Grizzlies
Yup, this is the headline grabber. The absolute crazy, drunk, would never happen in million years idea, right? Well, no one knows exactly how unhappy the Grizzlies organization is with Ja. Not to mention, they might be having the season from Hell.
This would obviously be New York leveraging the situation while going all in on a superstar. The circumstances might provide the opportunity to pay a little less, but it’s better to assume this would be full price.
The money works for Fournier-Hartenstein-Quickley. This could also be a Julius Randle scenario or Memphis saying they need Mitchell Robinson or RJ Barrett back, or both.
The Knicks own SIX first round picks in 2024 and 2025 alone. If both sides were inclined, this could become a reality.
Struggling Actor Sports 