Knicks Improve in Trade Idea

The Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks connection is as active as it's been in years. Since the Knicks traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Mavericks in 2019, the transactional trail has provided the NBA universe with hours of content. ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks made waves with a proposed trade on the latest Zach Lowe-hosted The Lowe Post Podcast .

Marks proposed a scenario in which the Knicks trade Julius Randle to the Mavericks for center Daniel Gafford.

For the Knicks, they receive a bonafide starting center who helped anchor the Mavs defense en route to an NBA Finals. They would also save money on the deal as Gafford has two years, $28 million left on his contract.

Although Randle is an All-NBA player and helped lead the Knicks to a 2021 playoff appearance, hasn't kept healthy for the last two seasons, and laid an egg regarding suboptimal shooting metrics in the aforementioned playoff run.

Ultimately, the trade is a no-brainer deal for the Knicks.

However, regardless of the theoretical scoring, Randle would provide the Mavericks, they'd instantly revert to a depthless center group, which they've suffered from since 2011 until last season. Also, the Mavs would have to include other players in the deal, gutting their depth in the process.

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However, if a third team could help facilitate such a deal, then maybe the Mavericks don't instantly hang up the phone on the Knicks' front office.

Nonetheless, it's safe to say Marks should keep workshopping a trade featuring Randle.