Not saying I want to trade Julius Randle.
Not saying I don’t want to trade Julius Randle.
This is to illustrate what I’ve found.
I’ve been watching the NBA for over 30 years, and I have never seen a more perfect trade partner for any particular player (logistics and money-wise) than Phoenix.
Just look at [these numbers.](https://hoopshype.com/salaries/phoenix_suns/)
**The Suns have:**
* An All-Star SG who needs the ball.
* A rebounding C who scores when asked.
* A floor general PG who has the respect of everyone.
* A defense first SF who can shoot and glues the team.
* Two expiring contracts ($21 million) in Jae Crowder (who requested a trade) and Dario Saric who match up with Randle’s contract ($23 million). CBA rules dictate you have to match trades within $5 million.
All PHX needs is a scoring PF.
The only thing left to discuss is draft capital coming back NY’s way.
**Obligatory**
This doesn’t make NY better. I understand, and I agree.
My post is to show that you could not draw this up any better if you tried. From a roster construction standpoint, it’s a dream trade scenario.
by theRestisConfettii
11 Comments
For the same reasons many people raised that acquiring Donovan Mitchell was not going to get the Knicks to where they need to be – the same can be said about Julius Randle for the next 4 years.
If this is truly about youth and waiting to move picks for the next star – the Knicks have to get some contracts off the books to pay that star(s). IMO – Randle, Fournier, and DRose are 3 guys that will most certainly not be on this team when they become a legit contender. Therefore – I say ‘Yes’ to this trade.
I’m being wanting to trade Julius just to save money at this point. I get the draft picks which you’d need to post for me to know what I’m working with but seriously, how many draft picks do we need when we’re trading picks rn
Suns have one of the cheapest owners and didnt even want to pay Ayton so your asking the Suns to have 5 starters who all make 22M+ and 3 of those starters making 28M+. I am probably in the minority of I would still trade Randle. I like Randle personally and I do think his talent/ skillset gets undervalued to some degree. I just think with having RJ and Randle who for the most part have been inefficient I dont think long term they are the best fit together as neither are great shooters one has to go. Randles value is the highest its been since its all nba season and imo it makes sense to gauge the market for him especially as we are sitting at .500. If the Suns were willing to give up two unprotected picks say 24/26 or 25/27 in which case you are getting a pick in the post CP3 era I would do it. I also dont think we would have that much dropoff from a team persepctive without Randle with the addition of Brunson
The money matches up but if Booker needs the ball in his hands, CP3 also wants to be the playmaker, Ayton can beast in the paint here and there, and Bridges just snipes open 3s… would the Suns give up valuable assets to get another guy who does all of the above to a degree?
OP- thank you for writing a thoughtful, intelligent and pragmatic potential trade post. These are rare on this sub and thought you should be commended
The Suns don’t have enough to trade for Randle atm, he’s making an all-star push and teams are gonna have to pay like he’s one now.
The Suns should’ve made a push earlier in the season if they wanted Randle.
I agree we’re perfect dance partners. I would hope we get a pick or maybe even two picks
I would only consider this for the Knicks if the Knicks get 2 unprotected first round picks in 2024 and 2026. Randle is playing well and is 28 years old and signed to a fairly reasonable contract for a borderline All-Star caliber player. The Knicks need to get significant assets back to take back mostly bad contracts from the Suns. And although I think the Suns would take on Randle for those contracts and their pick this year, I don’t think the Suns knowing CP3 doesn’t have much years left and knowing D-Book could request a trade in the next 2-3 years don’t want to bankrupt their future for Randle who may move the needle a bit but won’t massively improve their title odds.
For me in addition to moving off Randle’s deal long term I think you need a nice chunk of the Suns draft future to make it worth it. The 2024 pick may still be in the Booker/Ayton era but 2026 is a nice asset that can yield a nice return. Having those picks added to the pile of assets and gaining more flexibility down the road would be worth losing Randle a pretty good but not great player.
But if all I am getting is a pick in the 20’s and some expiring contracts pass I would rather keep a player at 28 who is at worst an above average starter at the position.
He fits in nicely in phoenix, maybe even in Miami as well. I just do not know if our FO is willing to trade him out. We are not tanking and we are pushing to win now-ish, so what is the appeal in sending out one of our best guys that is giving us major points every game.
I know many people here want to trade Randle for nada, and even more people (like me) just want to go with whatever trades happen as long it makes the team better overall. The problem is I think this FO and this coach is simply in love with the guy. They do not reprimand him nor do they hold him accountable if he is not playing up to par, they take him to Dallas to scout Brunson, the list goes on as he can do no wrong. He is the favorite child on this team, and will continue to be treated like royalty imho
I’d do this in a heartbeat if we got a first back also
Main issue with trading with PHX is their draft capital.
The Suns only have their picks and they aren’t trending towards being a mid-level to lottery bound team until 2026 the earliest.
Those picks being late firsts at best make it extremely hard to get real value back from trading Randle, unless you only care about getting off Randle’s contract. Maybe you can get back a Cam Johnson or Ayton but James Jones (Suns GM) seems be too conservative to make a trade that risky.
I’m having a hard time finding suitable trade partners for Randle. It’s really hard to get value back for a known star.