According to The Athletic’s Fred Katz, teams around the league don’t value Julius Randle the same way the New York Knicks do. That means his trade value isn’t as great as New York’s management thinks.

There’s always been a sense of whether Randle was a franchise player or a player that could have any role in this organization; it got increasingly louder when they went on a playoff run without the 29-year-old last season.

“I don’t believe there is a team in the NBA that would value the three-time All-Star more than the Knicks do,” writes Fred Katz at The Athletic. 

Katz continued to say that there’s only “neutral” interest in Randle, and that’s “at best.” This is heartbreaking to hear if you are a fan of the Knicks and want him gone.

Randle has one year left on his contract before deciding whether to exercise his option. If he opts into the option in 2025-26, it’ll cost New York $30.9 million.

NBA Exec: Knicks Making The Finals Means Trading Julius Randle

If you are a fan of Julius Randle or not, it doesn’t matter as this NBA executive believes that if the New York Knicks want any shot of making it to the NBA Finals, then they are going to have to trade the long-term forward.

The 29-year-old is set to miss the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury, which has not only gutted himself but also the team. However, New York has done a masterful job of weaving through their various rough patches of injuries and has earned themselves a playoff spot with the third seed in the East.

With all that being said, this NBA executive wants the Knicks to trade Randle for another star player who is a better fit for the current-day franchise.

“Yeah, they’re almost in a situation where they have to do something,” the exec told Heavy Sports. “They can’t afford to wait. They can stay a pretty good team. But if they want to have a chance at the Finals, they have to find a taker for (Randle), find a way to turn him into a star who fits better.”

Whether this splits the fanbase or not, individuals around the NBA and the media have been echoing this idea for quite some time. One of the main reasons is Randle’s inability to take his team to the next level, as some see him as a roadblock to what New York can achieve.

If the Knicks heed this executive’s advice, then unfortunately or fortunately, they’ll be looking to trade him in the offseason.

OG Anunoby Closer To Returning Than Julius Randle

Per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, while there is no official timeline for either player, it appears OG Anunoby is closer to returning than Julius Randle.

Randle is still in contact-controlled practices, as he hasn’t progressed beyond that. He is dealing with a seperated shoulder. However, for Anunoby, he continues to battle pain in his surgically repaired elbow. He is dealing with a right elbow injury.

If you take the word of Josh Hart, the New York Knicks would “be pleasantly surprised if they come back.” He says the team needs to operate like they aren’t returning for the remainder of the season.

For New York, they are battling for a playoff spot. Even though they are in fourth, there are still chances of them slipping into sixth or seven as time progresses.

They play the inner-conference Miami Heat Tuesday at 4:30 PM.