Inside The Rockets

Knicks' Julius Randle Listed as Rockets Trade Target

The Houston Rockets could seek a trade for New York Knicks star Julius Randle.

Jeremy Brener

Apr 15, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) shoots against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the fourth quarter of game one of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) shoots against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the fourth quarter of game one of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports / David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
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The Houston Rockets are in need of a boost that will get them back among the best teams in the Western Conference.

After four years of missing the postseason, the Rockets are hoping that they can end that drought this season.

They have been relying on their youth to get them back to the top, but they have enough young pieces to be able to trade some of them for an established All-Star. According to Bleacher Report writer Greg Swartz, one player they could look to acquire is New York Knicks forward Julius Randle.

"Another Texas native, Randle would be an upgrade over Jabari Smith Jr. in the starting power forward spot and is a veteran that the Rockets could run their offense through," Swartz writes. "A frontcourt of Randle and Alperen Şengün may not be the best defensively, but both are strong passers, rebounders and versatile scorers that head coach Ime Udoka could expand his offensive playbook with."

Randle turns 30 in November and is seeking a long-term deal, so that's why the Knicks could look to trade him. Jabari Smith Jr. would be the starter for a trade package, but the Knicks likely would also want Alperen Sengun in any deal as well to fulfill their center problems.

That would give the Rockets the green light to give Jalen Green a new contract along with Randle while the Knicks would roll with Smith and Sengun in the frontcourt.

Ultimately, it's a deal that's very unlikely to happen considering the Knicks love Randle and the Rockets are also very happy with Sengun.

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Jeremy Brener

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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