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Lakers should offer this Russell Westbrook-Julius Randle trade to Knicks

By Jason Reed

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on March 11, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on March 11, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
(Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /

Why the New York Knicks could say yes:

Look, I know that Russell Westbrook is not a hot commodity right now and the idea of any team wanting to trade for him seems unrealistic. As we see every offseason, teams get desperate and there is actually some good reasons for the Knicks to talk themselves into this deal.

Randle has not been able to repeat his efforts from the 2020-21 season and the Knicks very well could think that it was a one-year outlier. If New York doubts Randle’s future on the team at all, and he is demanding a trade, then it makes sense to trade four years of his contract for an expiring contract in Westbrook.

The way that Randle is playing he is no better than Westbrook and while his overall salary is less than that, it is more restricting in the long term. By trading for Westbrook, the Knicks are freeing up a massive amount of cap space to sign a max guy in the summer of 2023.

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If the Knicks still believe in Randle then this never happens. However, it is hard to see why New York would believe in the former Laker after the year he has had and how he had carried himself.

Rose is another bad contract that the Knicks probably want to move away from as well. It would not be totally shocking if Tom Thibodeau is not the coach of the team next season and Rose is a Thibodeau guy. He likely had a big say in that.

Throw in the top-8 protected pick that the Knicks can keep or use in future trades and it is an appealing package. If the team is projecting itself to have another disappointing year next year might as well get the asset, the cap space and sell some tickets with Russ in New York.

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