Patrick Beverley will forever be known for stirring up controversy on and off the field. All in good humour, particularly on the Pat Bev Pod, where the show’s star suggested that All-Star Julius Randle would be better off with the Sacramento Kings. Randle is currently with the The New York Knicks but appears to have fallen out of favor since last season’s Eastern Conference Finals.
For those who may have forgotten that long Olympic-filled offseason, the Knicks’ rotation has been without Randle in the rotation. Since arriving in New York in 2019, Randle has been a cornerstone of the franchise, averaging 22.6 points, 9.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game over five seasons. The Knicks have made three playoff appearances, while Randle has been named to the All-Star Game three times and made two All-NBA teams.
It’s no surprise that the Knicks are now considering a trade for Randle. always stubborn, never shy Beverley was asked what’s going on with Randle and a possible trade from the Knicks.
“I don’t know,” Beverley admitted. “It’s tough to recruit all those guys at that position. They’re Randle’s size, his type of player. I mean, the writing is on the wall. When the Clippers got James Harden, I knew Paul George was gone. I mean, one plus one equals two.”
Knicks don’t need Julius Randle anymore
The “Nova Knicks” appear to be moving in a direction less reliant on Randle, whose future with the team is now uncertain. Beverley’s co-host pointed out that Randle’s jersey is is no longer sold in the team’s flagship store.
“He got his ass out right away,” Beverley added. “In their defense, they’ve had a lot of success without him. This is probably the most success the Knicks have had since Julius Randle has been on the team. I like to watch both sides. It’s like Randle kind of sucks. Just a year ago, his jerseys were everywhere. But just a year ago, the Knicks were struggling to make the NBA playoffs.”
“It’s not personal. It’s never personal. It’s always a business issue. You can’t take it personally, not in the NBA.”
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The solution to the problem is simple, according to Beverley. A trade of Julius Randle to the Sacramento Kings would be beneficial for everyone.
“I’d like to see him with the Sacramento Kings,” Beverley said. “It would be nice, to have him with Sacramento. It would be different.”
De’Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis with Randle would be something unique in the highly competitive Western Conference. Would it be enough to secure a top-six spot and avoid the NBA Play-In Tournament? It just depends on how many supporting players need to be diverted to a third team. The Knicks are deep and will especially want draft capital in return.
That’s why a deal for a player like New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram might make more sense from a fitness standpoint. However, it would bring Randle back to a team that didn’t want to pay a premium in 2019, just before he had a breakout season with the Knicks. These are just a few of the stories to watch out for as we exit the Big Apple and Big Easy ahead of training camp.
