Knicks Rumors: Chasson Randle In Contract Talks
Recent New York Knicks rumors have the team in contract talks with Orlando Summer League standout, point guard Chasson Randle.
New York Knicks rumors have slowed down in recent weeks, as their roster is nearly full. Phil Jackson overhauled the team, bringing in a number of veterans that have the Knicks looking like one of the most improved teams in the NBA.
Jackson traded for Derrick Rose and Justin Holiday from the Chicago Bulls prior to the NBA Draft, and then got busy in the early going of free agency. First he landed Joakim Noah, then signed Courtney Lee and Brandon Jennings to bolster the backcourt. He then went overseas, adding Willy Hernangomez and Mindaugas Kuzminskas, while also retaining Lance Thomas and Sasha Vujcacic.
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All in all, it means that the Knicks have 14 players under contract, as Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzings and Kyle O’Quinn were the only players under contract after the Rose trade from the team last season.
The Knicks have one roster spot remaining, as NBA teams can carry a maximum of 15 during the regular season. But, with no more cap space available, the Knicks options for that last spot are limited, as they can sign players only to minimum contract deals.
One player the Knicks are hoping will take that last roster spot is Chasson Randle. According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, Randle and the Knicks are in discussions about a contract, as well as two other NBA teams.
“We’re in discussions with the Knicks, and he’s narrowed it down to two other teams,’’ Randle’s agent Kevin Bradbury told The Post. “For a young guy, it’s all about situations. He’s trying to figure out what’s the best fit and how he’d work with the Knicks.”
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One team rumored to be in the running for Randle is the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors, along with the Knicks, offered Randle an invite to their training camps last year, but without any guaranteed money. Because there was no guaranteed money, Randle decided to go overseas for a season.
It has proven to be the right decision, as he looks poised to land a deal with some guaranteed money, whether it be from the Knicks or someone else. While the Knicks can only offer him a minimum contract, the other teams could outbid them for Randle if they have the cap space. The Knicks could offer Randle a multi-year deal, but they cannot offer anything more than the minimum right now.
Randle’s agent mentioned that fit is something that is important for Randle, and the Knicks fit that bill. While at Stanford, Randle played a lot of point guard in the Triangle Offense. That is the same offense the Knicks will run principles from this season, so he should be more knowledgeable than the everyday rookie with the offense the Knicks will deploy.
We have already seen how successful Randle can be in the triangle, as he was dominant during the Orlando Summer League with the Knicks. Randle was the straw that stirred the drink, as the Knicks averaged a putrid 48.5 points per game with Randle sidelined, but with him on the court in three games, they averaged a robust 98 points per game.
Randle was impressive in his own right as well, averaging 18.3 points to go along with five assists, 4.3 rebounds and three steals per game. It may have been a small sample size, but Randle put up gaudy stats at Stanford as well, where he is the All-Time leading scorer in program history. In his four years at Stanford, Randle averaged 16.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
Randle would fill a need for the Knicks, as they are in need of a third point guard behind Rose and Jennings. Because of the injury concerns both players have, signing a third point guard makes a lot of sense to have someone available in case an emergency arises.
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Randle could fill that role as the third point guard, and should have an opportunity to do so during training camp. He should battle it out with Ron Baker, Marshall Plumlee and Maurice Ndour for the last spots on the roster. The players that end up not making the roster will more than likely be encouraged to play for the Knicks NBA D-League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks, a strategy they have used in the past to keep around younger players they feel are worth developing.