Some Knicks players, including prized rookie RJ Barrett, were frustrated during the 2019/20 season by Julius Randle‘s approach on offense, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post.
As Berman explains, Barrett – who is accustomed to having the ball in his hands – was among the players put off by Randle’s tendency to hang onto the ball too long and overdribble. While Berman suggests that the chemistry between Barrett and Randle will be worth keeping an eye on going forward, he notes that 2019’s No. 3 overall pick wasn’t the only player who was irked by Randle’s playing style.
“A lot of players felt like that with the exception of Elfrid Payton,” one source told The Post.
Unlike every other free agent signed by the Knicks during the 2019 offseason, Randle received a guaranteed multiyear commitment. He’ll earn $18.9MM in 2020/21, so it’s safe to say he’ll be back with the team unless there’s an offseason trade.
Reports before February’s trade deadline indicated that the Knicks were willing to discuss Randle, with Ian Begley of SNY.tv writing this week that the club engaged with the Hornets on a potential swap that would have included Randle, Dennis Smith, Terry Rozier, and Malik Monk, among other assets.
Assuming Randle returns, one Eastern Conference personnel person who spoke to Berman thinks the Knicks would be wise to avoid tasking him with the lead scoring role, despite the fact that the big man put up a team-high 19.5 PPG in 2019/20 (Marcus Morris scored 19.6 PPG as a Knick, but was traded in February). Randle struggled when he found himself receiving the brunt of opposing defenses’ attention, turning the ball over frequently.
“He absolutely should not be your No. 1 or even No. 2 option, maybe not even No. 3 on a serious contender,” that personnel man told Berman. “He doesn’t have a good enough feel (and is) much too ball-dominant. I don’t trust his decisions with the ball. As sixth man, he would fit perfectly because I don’t think he gives you much defensively either. That’s more in line with a sixth-man role.”
Given that Barrett had a tendency to keep the ball away from Zion while at Duke, this doesn’t surprise me.
Black Hole mentality. It’s why the Sixers hated Jah’s play.
This what’s wrong with NBA. And especially with Knicks. He’s 25 yrs old. Already on his third team. He’s shown he can be a double double guy. Since yr 2. Last 2yrs a 20 n 10 guy. He’s been on young teams. All going thru rebuilding. All have decided or looking to upgrade at his position. Instead of developing him. Into a more of a system type player. He’s bigger and more athletic than Draymond Green. Now Dray is one of smartest players in league. This is why you develop, why you make him more a system player. We can all learn to play smarter. But you need commitment. Something teams have not shown him. It’s true that his best role might as sixth man. But why wouldn’t a team like Pelicans (they weren’t getting Zion then), Knicks. Try and mold him to be more like Dray. A 20 and 10 player in NBA. Is a player you should want to fit n be part of your system. Unfortunately in NY the system is usually CHAOS.
Develop? Yes, but he’s never going to be anything like Draymond. Not even in the same universe on defense. Randle can dribble and is a so-so playmaker, but even developing him won’t make him Close to really good at it…
I suppose Barrett was nominated to quote since he is unmovable and probably likes structure.
The NY Post is great, but NY players do get more exposure– and exposed.
I did predict Randle would tear it up on this team, this year, and Payton would get them all together, but Randle was held back some by not dealing with double-teams well.
The Randle-Payton connection is interesting. If Payton is the only Randle fan, that would explain why Payton & team started hot then cooled of unaccountably, after he returned.
Some posters have been saying that Randle must go and DXC has referred to Randle playing the no-defense position lol.
Maybe if RJ had something resembling a jump shot, he might have a point.
im not surprise people say that about randle. when he was a laker that one thing me and many laker fans hated about him
“He absolutely should not be your No. 1 or even No. 2 option, maybe not even No. 3 on a serious contender,” that personnel man told Berman.
This goes for every Knick.
Just gave the nail a concussion here you hit it so hard on the head.
Looking forward to your next movie
Get that number off of his back. Who the hell is he?
Definitely should not be a number 1,2, nor maybe even a third option… too ball-dominant and not a trusty decision-maker… only 25 but on his third team already…. better suited as a 6th man…
Hey, let’s give him $19 million!!!
You and randle have nothing in common
Many fans too. The guy’s ceiling (on a good team) is as a second unit center. His signing at high end starter money has already cost Robinson a year as a starter. It should be the new FO’s priority this off season to move him. His deal is expiring, and their are similar bad expiring deals, so it should be doable.
I do like Randle, I think is a good player, all-star even, not a superstar that’s for sure, but a good one nonetheless, by far the best Knick this year, even in an awful team if you are the best player by a landslide it surely means you ain’t awful.
About RJ I do think he will be a star, maybe even a superstar, mind you he will be so much better than Randle, but right now he shouldn’t be speaking much as he had an absolutely awful rookie year, hardly worth a 2nd rookie team. Dreadful shooting, very bad passing & lots of turnovers, basically has shot, passed & lost the ball much worst than Randle, so I find ironic he is the one complaining about it, anyway as I said he will be the better player, the better man… who knows needs to start by been quiet & try to be as good as Randle is now so he can diss him in public, meanwhile learn quietly!
“the club engaged with the Hornets on a potential swap that would have included Randle, Dennis Smith, Terry Rozier, and Malik Monk, among other assets.”
In other words, both teams discussed trading a bunch of garbage with each other but in the end, were satisfied with the garbage that they already had.