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Best Spot: Charlotte Hornets
Technically, the best move for Julius Randle would probably just be going from the New York Knicks’ starting five to the bench.
Obviously, he’s a starting-level talent, but New York stumbled into something magical with Jalen Brunson as a heliocentric playmaker surrounded by shooting and defensive versatility.
OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges probably aren’t as good as Randle in a vacuum, but they fit that mold a little better. And as the primary ball-handler and scorer against reserves, Randle could absolutely feast.
If Randle can’t accept a role like that, or he just doesn’t quite fit with the starters this season, New York could look to move him for other players who fit the ‘Nova Knicks philosophy a little better.
Of course, that means finding teams that make sense for Randle, too, and that’s not the easiest task. Both literally and figuratively, his game takes up a lot of space. He handles the ball a lot. He doesn’t shoot well.
But he can put up big numbers in a “force of nature” sort of way, and his volume of scoring and playmaking could take some pressure off a playmaker who may be overtaxed.
The Charlotte Hornets probably fit the description of a team in need of what Randle does well, but they also just need talent. And a healthy LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Randle might be able to put them in the mix for a play-in spot.
Worst Spot: Golden State Warriors
Again, the Warriors probably just need to make any kind of talent play this offseason, but trading for Randle isn’t the one to make.
He’s productive, but it wouldn’t get much more “square peg in a round hole” than Randle’s ground-and-pound game in Golden State’s read-and-react offense.
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