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NBA Executive Reportedly Floats Potential Clippers-Knicks Trade

The New York Knicks have a complicated Julius Randle situation

Joey Linn

Dec 16, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) moves the ball against New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
Dec 16, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) moves the ball against New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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The New York Knicks have an interesting situation with three-time NBA All-Star Julius Randle. An All-Star three of his five seasons in New York, Randle has been a productive player for the Knicks, but his postseason struggles, health status, and contract situation are all areas of concern.

Playing just 44 games last season due to a right shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery, Randle did not play at all in New York's run to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Owed $28.9M next season and $30.9M (player option) in 2025-26, Randle may be difficult to trade when considering the league's new restrictive CBA.

In a recent article, Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports revealed a conversation he had with an NBA executive that floated the LA Clippers as a potential suitor for Randle in a trade market that may otherwise have little options for New York.

ew York Knicks forward Julius Randle and Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard
Dec 16, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) moves the ball against Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

“(The Knicks) do not have a lot of options trying to find a team to take Randle,” the Western Conference executive reportedly told Heavy Sports. “There’s not a lot of teams you can drop him into the lineup and they’d be fine, and there’s not a lot of teams that want to match up contracts there. But the Clippers could. They want another star for that group. Look around, that is one of the few places where it can make logical sense."

This felt like more of an opinion from this executive than any intel on potential interest from LA, but the idea was floated nonetheless.

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Joey Linn

JOEY LINN

Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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