The Knicks suffered a blow with the news that Julius Randle is set to miss the next few weeks with a shoulder injury. Randle had been playing at an All-Star level prior to going down, averaging 24.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 5.3 APG in January for a Knicks team that finished the month with a league-best 14-2 record. His absence will undoubtedly leave a void in the Knicks’ lineup, particularly during a crucial stretch of the season leading up to the trade deadline.
The timing of is unfortunate for the Knicks, who have been playing exceptionally well as of late. Much of their recent success can be attributed to the outstanding play of both Randle and Jalen Brunson. Additionally, the team has soared defensively, having held seven of their opponents in last month to under 100 points.
While the recently-acquired OG Anunoby should be able to step in and provide some minutes at the power forward position in Randle’s absence, the Knicks may find themselves lacking depth in the frontcourt. Anunoby, primarily a wing, may not be able to fully replicate Randle’s production and versatility at the power forward spot.
With the trade deadline looming, the Knicks may need to explore options to acquire another power forward to bolster their roster depth. If they did explore a trade, the Knicks have a couple of chips they could ship out — including 3-and-D wing Quentin Grimes in addition to Evan Fournier’s expiring contract.
Finding a one-to-one replacement for Randle’s skillset is not realistic, but getting a bigger body who can absorb some minutes at PF will be essential for the Knicks to maintain their standing in a crowded Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, there aren’t a whole lot of suitable PF’s on the market.
Most of the big names seemingly available this deadline will be guards and centers. Jerami Grant is a bit out of their price range. John Collins has been playing well for Utah as of late. Bruce Brown has played PF in the past — and fits the Tom Thibodeau mold perfectly — but is terribly undersized for that particular role.
The most intriguing deal could be something with the Utah Jazz that includes both Kelly Olynyk and Jordan Clarkson. In that potential deal, the Knicks would address their front court depth while adding another gifted ball handler. Both veterans have experience starting and also coming off the bench — Clarkson was named Sixth Man of the Year in ’21. It may cost the Knicks a couple of players plus a pick, but it would ultimately round out their team in a more complete way.
Randle’s injury presents a significant challenge for the Knicks, who will need to navigate through his absence while also considering potential roster adjustments ahead of the trade deadline to address their frontcourt depth and maintain their momentum in the playoff race. They already sacrificed a bit of depth in the Anunoby deal, and can’t afford to lose anybody else for an extended period of time. How the Knicks handle the next few weeks without Randle will be intriguing to watch.
