The New York Knicks are reportedly exploring a new role for their star forward, Julius Randle, in the upcoming season.
In a recent interview with Steve Aschburner of NBA.com, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau shared that the team is contemplating playing Randle more minutes at the center position.
“We’ll experiment with different things because we have flexibility,” said Thibodeau. “We could see Julius more at the 5. I don’t want to overuse him there, it’s physically demanding. But in short bursts, like 10 or 15 minutes, I think he can excel and create offensive mismatches.”
Randle, a three-time All-Star, has primarily played as a power forward throughout his career, standing at 6-foot-8, which is considered undersized for the traditional center position. However, his aggressive scoring ability, rebounding, and capacity to stretch the floor with his three-point shooting (around 34 percent during his time with the Knicks) make him a versatile offensive threat. The team’s need for help at the center position has also grown following Isaiah Hartenstein’s departure in free agency, leaving Mitchell Robinson, who has struggled with injuries, Jericho Sims, and Precious Achiuwa, who is also undersized, as the team’s remaining center options.
Though Randle has proven himself as a reliable scorer and rebounder, he has dealt with injuries, including a shoulder issue that limited him to just 46 games last season. For that reason, Thibodeau acknowledged that extended minutes at center might not be the best approach. Still, using Randle at the 5 in limited stints could be a smart strategy for the Knicks moving forward.
Meanwhile, another offseason trend is continuing: Ben Simmons workout videos. Simmons was recently seen training with renowned trainer Chris Brickley at The Summit fitness center in New York. A clip posted on social media showed the Brooklyn Nets forward confidently sinking long-range shots and turnaround jumpers, once again demonstrating his potential in front of no defenders.
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