Julius Randle is in the midst of his best season since entering the NBA, punctuating that point on Monday as he led the Knicks to a win over the Hawks by pouring in 44 points to go along with nine rebounds and five assists. After the game, Randle’s teammates made it clear that they believe he deserves All-Star recognition for his performance this season.
“It’s hard not to put him in the game,” RJ Barrett said, according to Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. “What else does he have to do? The man is an All-Star.”
So far this season, Randle is averaging career highs in points per game (23.1), rebounds (11.0), assists (5.6), and three-point percentage (40.6%), among other categories. And while he has posted strong box-score numbers in the past, this version of Randle is making a greater “impact on winning,” according to head coach Tom Thibodeau.
“I think he’s making other people better,” Thibodeau said. “He’s played an all-around game. Strong on both sides of the ball. He’s played an unselfish game. He’s doing it in a number of different ways. Playing multiple positions. He’s a point forward, he’s a forward, he’s a center. He’s doing it all. The most important thing is the impact he’s having on winning. Hopefully it’ll be recognized.”
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- After missing the last week due to the NBA’s coronavirus contact tracing protocols, Frank Ntilikina has been cleared and is expected to join the Knicks for Wednesday’s game in Orlando, tweets Vorkunov.
- The Knicks have yet to inquire on John Collins, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post, who says NBA executives believe the Hawks are unlikely to trade the big man unless they receive a “whopping” offer.
- Cavaliers center Andre Drummond, who is expected to be traded in the coming weeks, would consider the Knicks a “good landing spot,” Berman writes in the same story.
- A weekend report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski indicated that Mitchell Robinson would undergo surgery on his fractured right hand, but the injured center is getting one more consultation on Tuesday before making a final decision on that procedure, says Berman.
It’ll be interesting to see how Nkilitina figures into their rotation & long term plans.
I highly doubt NY is specifically meaning the NY Knicks, regarding Drummond. I think its a volley toward NY state.
There are 2 possible choices. BRK & NYK. Going by the Knicks situation, they would have to trade Knox, Nkilitina to make that happen. For a shot at the playoffs? Nah
I can tell you pretty certainly that Frank does not fit into their rotation or future plans. If anyone offered them even a 2nd round pick for Frank, they’d jump at the chance.
He’s been given plenty of opportunity and has been not played well at all. If they can’t manage to jam him into a trade package, he’ll walk at the end of the season, possibly back to Europe as I can’t see any NBA team bothering with him.
Yeah Frank was probably permanently out of the rotation even before the Rose trade
Now with Rose in town I think it’s safe to say he’s done.
PG is so deep I think even a 2nd will be tough for them to get for him.
Spending money on a sure fire not gonna be with the team next season guy for the sake of spending money sounds foolish. I don’t know what Nkilitina & Knox will be, but Drummond is nearly finished & $30 million. If he is waived he will go to BRK for a chance to play situationally.
Drummond didn’t go out & not try while getting used by other teams’ quicker, faster C’s. While on the trade market? Who has no pride & would let that happen repeatedly without a hard foul or some kind of adjustment? Drummonds’ use as a starter in the NBA is over I think.
I’d do it. It’s not like either of them are doing anything. I’m surprised they’re still on the roster.
I don’t think he’s done at all. My he’s not even blocked by Rose or IQ but rather Burks & Bullock. I also think they will look to retain him on the cheap and use this season as a developmental year to let him develop his game behind the scenes.
They’ll match whatever he gets in RFA. Cheaper to keep him
Who are fully interested in Collins and Lonzo?
If you are playoffs team, you offer two Future Firsts for Collins, it means you are not fully interested
You must offer the same level of player or high lottery pick
Pelicans and Hawks are seeking for overpayment
Overpay to get them and overpay to sign them insane amount of money
Crazy
Why oh why, I mean Why in the world. Would Knicks have interest in Collins. Berman the Knick hater is a lost soul. This man should take up another sport. Randle cos going to be a first time all star. We lucked out on a PF who dropped in the draft. And Berman is writing about trading for a PF. Our biggest strength position. For a Player who wants max money. This is the NY media when it comes to Knicks. No clue and all over the place. Hilariously inept. Best thing that happened last night against the Hawks. Was Randles play at the 4 and Knicks bench. Bench scoring has been consistent in our recent wins. And the depth has been paying off.
Drummond …… ha ha really ha ha .
Fully agree. Berman is a joke.
Yeah IDK where he sourced that – maybe at a Dolan harmonica concert?
Collins makes ZERO sense. As is the 4 spot is jammed with Randle and Toppin, and Collins is no small ball 5
Haha dolan harmonica concert. Dolan sucks at everything.
With the TD approaching. I would think Knicks have to play Nttilikina. Not only to show him but to see if they want to offer qualifying offer. He’ll be RFA next yr and will be due 8.3 mill. Don’t get why Toppin is not getting more mins. Could be they are trying to score big on Randle trade. Randle 44 pts last night.
The problem is how does Frank get any playing time? Rose, Quickley, Payton, Barrett, and even Rivers and Burks are better guards and the Knicks are pushing to squeak into the playoffs (meaning, they can’t afford to just give minutes to a lesser player). I don’t think there’s enough playing time.
I agree that’s an issue. I guess that’s a good problem to have. Personally speaking I’m more concerned long term Knicks. But I get Thibs has a chance here to make playoffs. Trading two guards helps. Payton, Burkes, Rivers can easily be moved for value. Don’t think it’s wise to give Frank away without Thibs giving him a good look. I see him better than Payton. Thibs should be able to get that out of him. Then we can get value in a trade. Or become a rotation guy. Unfortunately his contract now becomes an issue. Numbers gm for us now. TD is really big for us now that playoffs are at play.
Fully agree on the Toppin minutes. Thibs needs to let him play
But I think Frank’s time is passed. He had a chance at the beginning of the season but Quickley has already far surpassed him. Not to mention he really hasn’t shown much in his previous seasons to make anyone think they’re missing anything
He’s a restricted RFA but we’ll see who offers him what. Right now he looks like a minimum guy or back to the Euro Zone
And RCT hit it on the head too – he’s not even close to the rotation now. Rivers is sitting and he’s above him in the rotation.
Randle, as well as he’s playing, is still an ill fitting piece on an NBA court. I’m not sure the Knicks can fully buy into him (and his high post facilitation game) without rendering others ill fitting pieces. Toppin is at the top of that list. Robinson and Barrett too, for different reasons. A decision needs to be made at the FO level. Not sure its wise to punt on this, but it is what Knick FOs have traditionally done.
To me the game plan for NYK is put together a “scrappy” playoff team, reminiscent of Brooklyn and LAC in years past, then market yourself to the next big time FA as a destination spot
A spot where a star can sign then immediately contend
Randle may be ill fitting (although Im not sure I agree if he keeps shooting 40 from 3 and dishing 6 assists per) but I don’t think it’s a major issue either way
I’m not sure what star might be a FA (vs a trade candidate) soon. But I doubt many stars will want to play in an offense that runs through Randle – and for Randle to be effective he needs the offense to run through him. Likewise, few stars will be impressed with a team where guys like Robinson, Barrett and Toppin remain under developed. The latter won’t make good trade material in that event either. It’s not a major issue until it becomes an unsolvable one. The Knick approach has always been to wait until that happens.
With regard to Randle having the ball in his hands you could make the same case for Lou Will and LaVert respectively yet Kawhi PG Durant Kyrie are all in LA and Brooklyn. Also doubt it would become unsolvable. Randle’s contract is short and pretty sure they could move him if absolutely needed.
If the Knicks are a 6 seed and put up a decent fight in the first round they’ll be in good position. Not saying it’s a shoe in by any means but it’s better than bottom feeding for the next 5 years hoping to draft the next Luka or Zion
It’s less about the next draft, and more about the development of the young players we’ve already drafted. Randle’s style is already limiting their development (not a question of if it might). It’s more than his needing the ball, its where he needs it and when and how he gives it up. A high post C is unusual (part of what can make it effective), and changes roles. Buying into an unusual guy means adjusting the rest of the roster. That’s usually reserved for a superstar. Jokic, Luka, etc. At some point soon – maybe not right now – they need to decide if they’re going to double down on Randle that way.
Maybe a star won’t care if he’s assured that Randle will be a 6th man type like Lou Will has always been, and the Nets tried to make LeVert. But even the two team approach of Doc Rivers to keep Lou Will and Harrell in close to their prior roles was a big problem for the Clips last year.
I don’t get it WHY are people trying to trade Randle we finally have a stud all star who makes every one better and all we hear is trade him let’s see what happens we don’t know what Toppin.is let him show us something before we just give him the spot
Because Randle is not a star yet. He’s having a good yr. And drafting Toppin had a lot to do with it. I’ve always believe with right coaching Randle had a chance to be a solid starter. Plenty on this board shot that down. He’s showing it this yr , have to say. To me Toppin is a better system 4. Why IMO he can be better than Randle. Randle with his upside this yr. gives us a huge opportunity to use him to get another position talent. A SF or a scoring 2 (move RJ to 3). That upgrades team immensely. Don’t get excited by a .500 team. We are in a rebuild. And outperforming your expectations this yr. Shouldn’t mean we scrap our long term plan. First build a young core, get value for our players. We have young talent that were high picks. We have expiring contracts. We have vets who can help contenders this yr. We have three picks in top 32 in 2021 draft. Two picks could be lottery picks. We could possibly have more than 55 mill in FA. We are positioned to make major upgrades in talent all for next yrs team. We don’t throw that away or scrap that to fight for eight seed. If Playoffs are an action of our rebuild, then its great. The future is 40 games away. Don’t get blinded by false hope now.