Teams believe that Chicago’s Lauri Markkanen could be available via trade for the right offer, SNY sources confirm.
The Knicks, you probably remember, had interest in Markkanen when they were talking to teams about trading Kristaps Porzingis prior to the 2017 NBA Draft.
Obviously, we’re a long way from 2017 (the Knicks have had two team presidents and three full-time head coaches since those trade talks).
So, would the current Knicks regime have interest in Markkanen? It’s unlikely.
Some with the Knicks feel that Markkanen wouldn’t fit well with the club due to the presence of Julius Randle.
This in and of itself isn’t surprising. But it’s more evidence that New York sees Randle as an important part of its plans moving forward.
Randle is averaging 23.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists in 37 minutes per game. He earned a spot on the Eastern Conference All-Star team this season. Randle is under contract through next season, and is eligible for an extension after the season.
