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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. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Julius Randle, New Orleans Pelicans. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Durability

The signing of Randle would allow Knicks fans a sigh of relief. Why? Because unlike Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, this guy will give you close to 82 games a season and stay healthy and reliable throughout. I’ll preface this by saying that unlike Irving and Durant, Randle has never played in a playoff game, so he’s never had to go to the multiple finals like them which can lead to lasting tolls on your body. However, he’s still fresh, which means that he can play in back to back games and make long runs in the playoffs for a few years before seeing any issues with his body.

His bulky frame allows him to recover from minor injuries better or even prevent them from happening. During his five years in the NBA, Randle had played at least 73 games every season except for his rookie year when he only played in his debut and broke his leg. Some may question his durability after an injury like that, but as of right now, he’s played in 310 out of the 328 possible games he could’ve played following his brutal leg injury. Seeing numbers like that gives me no reason to believe that he will be affected by this injury at all, especially since it’s been four solid years of basketball following that moment.

In closing…

I would argue that outside of Irving and Durant, this is the best option that the Knicks can get in terms of attainable and realistic Free Agents. He adds to the youth in the already young team, has proven to be a solid player for multiple coaches and systems and a great player when he’s one of the first options. He’s a durable, offensive weapon that is going into year 6, is still a few years out of entering his athletic prime.

He’s going to be an All-Star within the next two years, and his numbers are only going to improve from the 21, 8 and three he averaged this year. If I’m the Knicks, I’d be going all in on a guy like Randle especially because he’s shown interest in wanting to be a Knick.

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I think in the end if they pick him up, he’ll be worth it and will more than likely be an essential piece to any future championship contending team the Knicks hope to have.

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