NBA Rumors: New York Knicks Among Three Teams Interested In Point Guard Chasson Randle


The New York Knicks would like to add a third point guard to their roster prior to training camp and one possible fit is rookie Chasson Randle, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.

Randle was sensational playing for the Knicks’ Orlando summer league squad, averaging 18.3 points along with 5.0 assists, 3.0 steals, and 4.3 caroms in three contests. The 23-year-old shot 47.6 percent (20-of-42) from the field and 55.0 percent (11-of-20) from beyond the arc.

After missing the first couple of games, Randle made a splash in his summer league debut against the Los Angeles Clippers on July 5. Randle poured in 24 points, on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor, and grabbed five rebounds while doling out five assists. He also ended up with six steals and was 6-of-9 on his three-point attempts.

Randle finished with double-figures in his other two games, going for 17 against Orlando White (July 6) and 14 against the Clippers on July 8.

“We’re in discussions with the Knicks, and he’s narrowed it down to two other teams,” his agent Kevin Bradbury said. “For a young guy, it’s all about situations. He’s trying to figure out what’s the best fit and how he’d work with the Knicks.”

Randle went undrafted out of Stanford in 2015 after finishing his career as the school’s all-time leading scorer. He finished his collegiate career with 2,375 points as he shot 42.8 percent from the floor and 38.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Randle ran the triangle under Johnny Dawkins at Stanford, which is why he seemed so comfortable during summer league action, Bradbury acknowledged.

“It’s similar to the offense he ran in college,” Bradbury said. “So it was a no-brainer to come here to summer league. It’s definitely a version of what he ran, and that’s why he felt so comfortable.”

Last year, Randle played with the Golden Warriors’ summer league squad before signing with CEZ Nymburk of the Czech Republic’s National Basketball League. Randle appeared in 66 games last season for Nymburk, averaging 12.8 points on 46.3 percent shooting from the floor and 42.4 percent from three-point land. He also contributed 2.38 rebounds and 1.95 assists a game.

New York currently have 14 players under contract and are over the cap, per Basketball Insiders. Meaning that the Knicks could only offer Randle the rookie minimum of $565,000 this season, though the contract can be for multiple years.

If Randle does sign with the Knicks and make the team, he would be slotted behind Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings. Both Rose and Jennings have been injury prone throughout their careers.

Courtney Lee, Justin Holiday, and Sasha Vujcacic are slated to see time for the Knicks at shooting guard while Lance Thomas will back up Carmelo Anthony at small forward. New York have a plethora of frontcourt options with Kristaps Porzingis, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, and Maurice Ndour, along with Joakim Noah, Kyle O’Quinn, Guillermo Hernangomez, and Marshall Plumlee.

Berman added that New York also plan to bring in undrafted rookie Ron Baker for training camp. Baker, a 6-foot-4 guard out of Wichita State, struggled shooting the ball through the first three games of summer league play but picked up his production over the last two contests.

Baker exploded for 22 points, on 8-of-15 shooting and 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, while also grabbing nine caroms and dishing out five assists against the Orlando White squad on July 6. He then tallied 20 points as he made 7-of-13 shots from the field, including 4-of-6 from long distance, against the Los Angeles Clippers on July 8. Baker finished the summer league campaign as the Knicks second leading scorer, averaging 14.0 points and 5.6 rebounds. He also hauled in 5.6 rebounds, doled out 2.4 assists, and came up with 2.8 steals a game.

While the other two teams interested in Randle are unknown, Berman speculated that one of the teams may be the Warriors. Golden State have 14 players under contract and are over the cap as well. Randle would have Seth Curry and Shaun Livingston ahead of him on the depth chart, if he chose to sign with Golden State.

[Photo by Elaine Thompson/AP Images]

Share this article: NBA Rumors: New York Knicks Among Three Teams Interested In Point Guard Chasson Randle
More from Inquisitr