Knicks All-Star Linked to Hornets in Offseason Trade Rumors

New York Knicks star Julius Randle has been identified as a trade candidate by the Charlotte Hornets ahead of the offseason.

Randle was the most talked-about Knicks player in trade rumors all summer, scoring 24 points, 9.2 rebounds and five assists in the 2023-24 season, earning another All-Star nod, but missing the final 36 games of the season with a dislocated shoulder.

The recent addition of Mikal Bridges raises questions about whether Randle will fit into the new roster next season. There is a team that has the pieces to properly compensate the Knicks for their No. 2 pick, as one NBA writer recently outlined.

Knicks: Julius Randle linked to Charlotte Hornets amid trade speculation

Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus asked whether the Charlotte Hornets would be wise to inquire about Randle in a trade for star forward Miles Bridges and whether they would consider the Kentucky native a viable option that would allow them to bypass the challenges of their market (source: Jeremy Brener of New York Knicks in SI):

“It’s hard to get your bearings on the Hornets since Jeff Peterson took over in March,” Pincus writes. “He paid $75 million to keep (Miles) Bridges for three years. Was that a commitment, or was Peterson trying to turn Bridges around in a trade? Will the team continue to slowly build through the draft? Charlotte isn’t exactly a free-agent destination. Would the chance to land an All-Star like Julius Randle be worth the leap?”

Miles Bridges would be a great fit for the new Knicks roster if traded for Randle

Hornets forward Miles Bridges has been identified by both Pincus and Brener as the ideal centerpiece in a trade for Randle. The talented combo forward possesses many of Randle’s offensive skills, including the ability to spread the ball, use his size to get to the rim on the drive down the stretch and finish through contact. The difference is that Bridges is much more athletic as a high-flyer, while Randle has more skill as a playmaker.

The Hornets would likely need to include another element in any deal involving both players, as Randle has more playoff accolades and success than the Michigan State product. Bridges is coming off a scandal that kept him off the court for the entire 2022-23 season and could be a welcome addition to a Knicks team that could benefit from a faster pace of play next time out.

His usage rate and catch-and-shoot ability better than Randle’s would allow the Knicks to more evenly distribute shots between him, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby behind All-Star Jalen Brunson. Bridges made 38.2 percent of his long-range shots compared to Randle’s 35.4 percent.

The question remains what the Knicks will do with their former player before the end of the 2024-25 NBA season, but if Charlotte is willing to trade Bridge in the future, it could be an attractive offer for New York’s front office.