Knicks Trade Rumor: Ex-NBA Champion Named as Potential Julius Randle Backup
With Julius Randle sidelined due to a dislocated shoulder, a former NBA champion has surfaced as a possible trade candidate for the New York Knicks.
Vardon stated on “NY SportsNation Nightly” on January 31 that “PJ Tucker is stuck on the [Los Angeles] Clippers and then with the sort of injuries that the Knicks have in the frontcourt, perhaps he’s a possibility.”
Tucker joined the Clippers in the James Harden trade, but he hasn’t appeared on the court since November 27.
“[Tucker] has been frustrated with his role and wants to help a good team,” Michael Scotto of Hoopshype says. League sources told HoopsHype that Tucker is not anticipated to talk about a buyout if the Clippers are unable to find a suitable trade partner.
Due to earn $11 million this season, Tucker, 38, has a player option to earn $11.5 million the following year.
In addition to being a stalwart on defense, Tucker is among the best corner 3-point shooters in his position, which would be ideal for the Knicks as they need to create more room for their All-Star point guard, Jalen Brunson.
Over his career, the seasoned forward has made 36.5% of his threes.
HoopsHype was informed by league sources that the Knicks were also interested in Jordan Clarkson and Kelly Olynyk of Utah earlier in January.
An NBA scout told HoopsHype, “Clarkson will be a game changer for whatever team that can get him.” “Among the volume scorers available on the trade market, I believe he is the best.”
The 2020–21 Sixth Man of the Year, Clarkson, started 19 games as a starter before moving to the bench.
As he gets ready to hit unrestricted free agency in the summer, Olynyk is reportedly attracting interest from teams all over the league and is viewed by rival executives as Utah’s best trade candidate ahead of the deadline.
Quentin Grimes, a guard for the Knicks who was previously mentioned in trade talks involving Donovan Mitchell, was brought up again in separate talks with the Jazz for Clarkson and Olynyk, league sources told HoopsHype.
According to league sources who spoke with HoopsHype, Grimes has also been brought up in several trade talks with the Atlanta Hawks for guard Dejounte Murray and in a different, more intimate conversation involving AJ Griffin. According to sources, Grimes is attracting interest from the Hawks as a possible 3-and-D option next to Trae Young.
Griffin, a CAA client, has fallen out of Atlanta’s rotation after showing promise as a rookie, averaging 8.9 points in 19.5 minutes on 46.5 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc.
The Knicks have held out the possibility of an upgrade by dangling the contracts of Grimes, Evan Fournier, and draft picks, as previously reported by HoopsHype.
Go to the section on Atlanta directly below for more information on Murray’s talks.
The league has quieted down after raucous rumors over the past few weeks regarding Dejounte Murray’s trade negotiations with the Los Angeles Lakers.
In ten games from January 13 to 30, Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell—who is the focal point of any possible Murray acquisition if he is traded to a third team—has been on a tear, averaging 25.2 points and 6.1 assists. That third team has not yet emerged, and Los Angeles is reluctant to add another player to entice a third team to contend.
