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What Julius Randle would bring to the New York Knicks

By James Kattato

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: Julius Randle #30 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after a Pelican foul during a 112-104 Laker win at Staples Center on December 21, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: Julius Randle #30 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after a Pelican foul during a 112-104 Laker win at Staples Center on December 21, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Julius Randle, New Orleans Pelicans. New York Knicks. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

Offensive Talent

This one shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone as Randle can do a little bit of everything well on the offensive end. He’s an incredibly athletic big that can score with his back to the basket or facing up to it. Uniquely, he’s a left-handed Forward which is something that you don’t see a lot of in today’s game. Although he’s smaller for his position, he makes up for it with his overwhelming athleticism and play-making ability. Not to mention, Randle can score from nearly anywhere on the court.

Overall from the field, Randle shoots at 52 Percent, but where things get interesting is when he takes threes. The fifth-year player sports a respectable 34 Percent from long range and makes him more of a three-tier threat to guard. His crafty handles for a 6’9 Forward allow him to maneuver his way into the lane and get to the hole with his above the rim attitude. If he’s not able to get the finish and he gets fouled, his 73 Percent from the charity stripe makes him more than capable of knocking down the freebies.

Overall, Randle has been an elite scorer ever since he came out of Kentucky. His flat out ability to put the ball in the net is one that not many players have in the league today. For the Knicks, they’ve been missing a more offensively oriented big that can score. With Mitchell Robinson more than likely being their big man of the future, they need to allow him more time to become well rounded and develop his offensive game. This will give the Knicks the much-needed threat in all five positions that they’ve lacked for years.

Added Youth

Though the saying goes, ‘father time remains undefeated,’ that doesn’t mean that the Knicks are willing to let it come true. Through consistently rotating the older players out of the team, New York has successfully been able to build one of the youngest cores in the NBA. Averaging 23 and a half years old, the Knicks are the second most inexperienced team in the NBA, and Randle (24) certainly doesn’t hurt that cause.

Assuming the Knicks were to sign Randle to a Five Year Max Contract, it would allow him to come up with the same guys for those next handful of years and develop into a powerhouse towards the end of his deal. Imagine RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox, Allonzo Trier, Dennis Smith Jr., Damyean Dotson, Robinson, and Randle all still together by the year 2024. It would quickly turn into a better all-around Knicks team than the one in 2013 and would be ready for a deep playoff run when the time comes.

Some Knicks fans are impatient and want to win now, but those who are showing patience with the team are the ones that realize all the potential that these players show for the future. If the franchise can keep this core group of guys together and promote Randle as one of the leaders of this team, then by the time the end of his contract hits, all of his teammates will be running the beginning of their primes. Watching this team at their full potential would be a treat to watch for fans and a nightmare for the rest of the NBA.

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