The New York Knicks are engaged in trade talks with the Utah Jazz for shooting guard Donovan Mitchell. If the Knicks achieve a deal for Mitchell then the next move could be trading for Lakers’ guard Russell Westbrook, per NBA insider Marc Stein.
A source told Stein the Knicks would want to “explore scenarios to trade away Julius Randle” if they can acquire Mitchell. Trading away Randle could help clear the remaining three years of Randle’s initial four-year, $117 million contract signed last offseason.
Westbrook is set to make $47.1 million in 2022-23 after opting into the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Westbrook was expected to be the main pace for a potential Kyrie Irving trade with the Nets.
With the two teams away from an agreement, the Lakers could still want to offload Westbrook and that’s where Julius Randle could fit in. Though Randle struggled with consistency last year, he is averaging 22.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.
The Knicks, meanwhile, likely wouldn’t even want Westbrook in the backcourt, as Stein reported, but would instead use the deal to clear salary cap space. Randle’s contract alone isn’t enough to match salaries.
It could clear up space for an RJ Barrett contract extension with the guard heading into the final year of his contract. However, the main goal for the Knicks now is to trade for New York native Donovan Mitchell as the first domino of a very competitive roster.
New York would be able to build around RJ Barrett, Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson and Mitchell Robinson.
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