Julius Randle

If the New York Knicks swing a trade for Donovan Mitchell, the next move could be a deal for Russell Westbrook, according to 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. A swap for Westbrook could help clear the remaining three years of Randle's initial four-year, $117 million contract signed last offseason after his All-Star campaign in 2020-21.

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.

As Stein noted, the Lakers will first try to use Westbrook in a trade for Kyrie Irving but could be interested in Randle as a secondary option.

ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported Saturday the talks between the Lakers and Brooklyn Nets have "not progressed."

Los Angeles could still be motivated to deal away Westbrook after a disappointing 2021-22 where the squad missed the playoffs with a 33-49 record. Randle could be a reasonable return in a trade, adding a double-double threat who played his first four years with the Lakers.

Though Randle struggled with consistency last year, he is averaging 22.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game over his last two seasons with the Knicks. It could give the Lakers an added scoring boost behind James and Davis as the squad tries to get back into playoff contention.

The Knicks, meanwhile, likely wouldn't even want Westbrook in the backcourt, as Stein reported, but would instead use the deal to shed payroll.

Randle's contract alone isn't enough to match salaries, but adding Evan Fournier or Derrick Rose to the deal would do it if the Lakers were to accept this type of package.

It could clear up space for an RJ Barrett contract extension with the guard heading into the final year of his contract. New York would then be able to build around Barrett, Mitchell, Jalen Brunson and Mitchell Robinson.

The first domino would still be swinging a trade for Mitchell.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Knicks are a "motivated suitor," but they'll still need to find a package that works for the Utah Jazz.

New York Knicks power forward Julius Randle has had a disappointing season after being named NBA Most Improved Player last year. But despite reported trade rumors, Randle doesn't want to go anywhere.

Knicks president Leon Rose told MSG's Mike Breen that Randle "loves it" in New York and has expressed a desire to remain with the team, per Ian Begley of SNY. Begley added that Randle has also expressed that same sentiment when speaking to beat reporters recently.

Marc Berman of the New York Post reported last week that it appeared Randle was trying to force himself out of New York in a "James Harden type of way," referring to the Philadelphia 76ers guard orchestrating two trades in two years to reach his preferred team. Randle was asked about rumors that he asked management for a trade, and he told Begley "that's just not true."

Randle has not played since March 30 because of a sore quad, and he won't suit up for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Toronto Raptors. He ends the year with averages of 20.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists, down from the 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists he averaged a year ago.

After reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2013 last year, the Knicks (36-45) won't even be in this year's play-in tournament. The team has failed to find any consistency all year, and Randle is not exempt from that.

During a home game in January, Randle made a thumbs-down gesture to the crowd at Madison Square Garden. His body language throughout the season amid the team's struggles has not been that of a leader.

Whether Randle is still with the Knicks next year or not, it's clear that New York has a lot to do if it wants to contend for the playoffs in 2022-23.

New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters Tuesday that he doesn't expect Derrick Rose or Julius Randle to return before the end of the season:

Rose has been out since December with a right ankle injury. He had a procedure on the ankle at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery that same month.

Randle has been out for all of April with a quad injury. Thibodeau told reporters Saturday that Randle would "most likely" be out for the remainder of the year.

There's no reason for either veteran to return this season even if they were healthy.

The 35-44 Knicks, who are 11th in the Eastern Conference, have already been eliminated from a spot in the play-in tournament. They have three regular-season games remaining before their 2021-22 campaign ends Sunday.

It's been a disappointing season for the Knicks, who made the 2021 playoffs after missing out on the postseason for seven years.

A 41-31 campaign ended with a five-game loss to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, but expectations were that the Knicks would be back in the playoffs this year.

That did not happen.

The Knicks' defensive rating dropped from third to 11th, per Basketball-Reference. They also had a bad habit of blowing big leads, including three of 20 or more in an 11-day span prior to the All-Star Break.

Kemba Walker was brought in as the team's new starting point guard, but he played just 37 games and shot just 40.3 percent from the field.

Randle had a down year. He went from scoring 24.1 points on 45.6 percent shooting (41.1 percent from three-point range) to 20.1 PPG on 41.1 percent shooting (30.8 percent from three).

Rose, who was one of the biggest reasons why the Knicks made the playoffs the year before, suited up for just 26 games.

There was one notable bright spot, as RJ Barrett continued his improvement and currently averages 20.1 points per game in his third NBA season.

But the Knicks are simply playing out the string of a lost season at this point. They'll close out the year with a home game against the Brooklyn Nets, a road matchup with the Washington Wizards and another home matchup versus the Toronto Raptors.

New York Knicks star Julius Randle will miss at least one game with a quad injury.

The team announced Randle won't play on Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks because of a sore right quadriceps tendon.

This will be just the third game Randle has missed all season. He sat out back-to-back games on Dec. 31 and Jan. 2 after entering the league's health and safety protocols. 

While Randle suffered a broken leg during his rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers, he has been fairly durable since. He appeared in 64 or more games in the following six seasons heading into the 2021-22 campaign.

When healthy, he is one of the focal points of New York's offense.

Randle is averaging 20.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game while shooting 41.3 percent from the field and 30.7 percent from deep this season after he made his first career All-Star Game during the 2020-21 campaign.

The University of Kentucky product was also an All-NBA second team selection last season while helping lead the Knicks to the playoffs.

New York will miss Randle's presence if he is sidelined, but look for the combination of Jericho Sims, Cam Reddish and Alec Burks to see more playing time.          

The Knicks are barely hanging on in the race for the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference. Their 30-41 record is tied with the Washington Wizards for 11th in the east. They are five games behind the Hawks for the 10 seed with 11 games remaining.