Julius Randle reportedly on the trade block—should OKC make an offer?

To help maximize their championship window, the Oklahoma City Thunder addressed a glaring hole this summer by bolstering the front court with the addition of former New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein.

The big man’s arrival back in July catapulted the Thunder to among next season’s title favorites and supposedly makes the team a perennial contender for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. But in today’s NBA, trade talks will always be rampant, particularly for a team that has shown no reluctance to make surprising moves over the last handful of seasons.

The report

During a recent episode of “The Hoop Collective,” veteran NBA analyst Brian Windhorst reported that the Knicks are in the market to explore a trade for Julius Randle, the two-time All-NBA and three-time All-Star forward, who is set to earn roughly $30 million next season.

Immediately, that number rings of Hartenstein's annual salary. And if the Thunder can extend that kind of money to a bench player, then they can certainly pay that to one of the best players at his position, right?

The Knicks are seemingly ready to move on from Randle and "because of that $29 million salary, he is extraordinarily tradable," said Windhorst. New York would listen if the Thunder were to call and ask what it would take to acquire him.

Worth the investment?

Randle is a versatile big man who has added the outside shot to his repertoire in recent years. For an already big roster, the All-Star forward would only fortify Oklahoma City’s strong interior and elite two-way presence, even hypothetically slotting him at the small forward position late in games — with Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren in the front court — to present a virtually unmatchable lineup for the opposition.

However, there is one caveat of the deal: acquiring Randle would mean letting go of some quality depth, a starter, and a couple of draft picks.

Considering the Thunder’s transactions over the last five years, all of them have been pro-capital, especially when it comes to adding or holding on to draft picks, as evidenced by the Josh Giddey-Alex Caruso swap back in June.

Despite playing just 46 games a season ago, Randle averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists on 47.2% shooting from the field. While the production reflects one of the most elite players in the association, the soon-to-be 30-year-old has been hampered with an injury in consecutive postseasons, not to mention a substantial injury history throughout his career.

Even if he was proven in the durability department, it all boils down to the Thunder having to give up more than what they would get back in the deal. Adding a fourth major salary to the roster wouldn’t be possible without making room for it first. Oklahoma City is committed to its future with the pieces they have, which explains why the franchise only sought out one free agent this offseason.

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