Knicks May Have Had Chemistry Concerns With Julius Randle

The Knicks may have traded for Timberwolves star big man Karl-Anthony Towns for more reasons than just because they wanted Towns. They may also have been longing to move power forward Julius Randle.

Both men were part of the deal that is sending Towns to New York and Randle, guard Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick (via the Pistons) to Minnesota.

A lot of people think Randle will be a good fit with the Timberwolves. But they’re not so sure you could say the same about Randle with the Knicks.

“I feel like there were some real chemistry concerns with Randle,” Bill Simmons of The Ringer said on his podcast. “Bringing him in under, you know, as kind of the ugly stepchild of this Villanova Four team. He’s over there, he’s underpaid by the fact that he’s a top 50 guy, he’s gonna have to play out of position, Brunson’s gonna have the ball all the time, and they must have not liked something.”

Randle will make $28.9 million this season. He can become a free agent next offseason.

A Kentucky product, Randle is eligible to sign an extension. Minnesota can offer the All-Star a contract as big as $181.5 million over four years. 

Randle, 29, appeared in 46 games in 2023-24, averaging 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocks while shooting 47.2% from the floor and 31.1% on 3-pointers. 

He signed with the Knicks in the offseason of 2019 after playing for the Pelicans during the 2018-19 season. He averaged 22.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.3 blocks for New York.

The Knicks signed Randle to a four-year, $117 million extension in August 2021, right after he won the Most Improved Player of the Year Award.

A three-time All-Star, Randle has career averages of 19.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Lakers, Pelicans and Knicks. He was the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Lakers.

(Ashish Mathur contributed to this report.)