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Part 12 of a series analyzing the New York Knicks Power forward Julius Randle became the most polarizing Knicks player with the fans — and in the locker room. Randle’s traditional numbers are strong but bittersweet. If there are no more regular-season games due to the coronavirus pandemic, Randle will finish 32nd in the league …
Part 12 of a series analyzing the New York Knicks
Power forward Julius Randle became the most polarizing Knicks player with the fans — and in the locker room.
Randle’s traditional numbers are strong but bittersweet.
If there are no more regular-season games due to the coronavirus pandemic, Randle will finish 32nd in the league in scoring (19.5), 14th in rebounding (9.7) while posting the 12th-highest total of double-doubles (30).
Nevertheless, some Knicks, including rookie RJ Barrett, were frustrated by Randle’s penchant for not distributing the ball quickly enough and overdribbling, according to two sources familiar with the situation.
Randle became less of a turnover machine in the final two months and became a little less clunky on the drive. Still, the on-court chemistry between Randle and Barrett, who is used to having the ball in his hands, bears major watching next season. For the most part, Barrett kept quiet about the Randle situation.
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“A lot of players felt like that with the exception of Elfrid Payton,’’ one NBA source told The Post.
Randle was signed to a three-year, $63 million contract and the pressure of being the No. 1 guy was too much early on. He eventually ceded that designation to Marcus Marcus after committing four-plus turnovers in eight of the first 12 games.
“You can’t argue with his productivity,’’ an Eastern Conference personnel man told The Post. “But he was in the wrong role. He absolutely should not be your No. 1 or even No. 2 option, maybe not even No. 3 on a serious contender. He doesn’t have a good enough feel, [and is] much too ball-dominant. I don’t trust his decisions with the ball. As sixth man, he would fit perfectly because I don’t think he gives you much defensively either. That’s more in line with a sixth-man role.”
The 25-year-old southpaw reflected on the difficultly of his adjustment to the Knicks amid the 21-45 campaign. His agent, Aaron Mintz, was often in his ear with encouragement, but Randle often talked about struggling to figure out the double- and triple-teams he had never faced before.
According to The Athletic, Randle apologized to the club for not being a better on-court leader during a players-only meeting the morning former coach David Fizdale was fired.
“Julius got paid to be the leader of the franchise, but Morris played like the leader of the franchise,’’ the NBA source said. “Fiz anointed Mo the leader early on. Maybe that fueled Julius to play like he did.’’
After Morris was traded, Randle’s scoring responsibility rose, and he met the challenge. However, his 3-point shot never became reliable. Randle wound up regressing in that area, finishing at 27.7 percent before the season’s suspension.
Randle’s shakiness from the perimeter prompted Fizdale to comment in a radio interview last week that the Knicks need more of a stretch-4 to start at power forward.
Randle went out in style in Atlanta on March 11 — scoring 33 points and hitting three of six 3-pointers in a victory that could become the season finale. That marked his eighth 30-point outing of the season.
“He’s played extremely hard, started to show he could make the passing play when doubled,’’ said another NBA scout. “Though his 3-point shooting dipped, he’s proved in the past he is capable of stretching his game and the defense. But he can be a ball-stopper.”
The Post reported before the trade deadline the Knicks were open to moving Randle, whose third year is guaranteed at just $4 million. Subsequent reports stated Charlotte engaged with the Knicks about Randle for point guard Terry Rozier, a longtime target of Knicks GM Scott Perry.
Whenever the offseason begins, that Charlotte scenario could always be revisited, though Randle may have an ally in new president/former agent Leon Rose (Randle is a Creative Artists Agency client).
Randle, a former Lakers lottery pick, is just 25, but it should be noted he has played on a losing team for all his six seasons. Figuring out the Randle conundrum is one factor making Rose’s job so challenging.
