Tom Thibodeau lived up to his reputation in the Knicks bubble. Known as a detail-oriented taskmaster, the coach pushed the significance of a focused approach while leaving a strong impression on one of the Knicks most important players.
Julius Randle Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: F
Born: 11/29/94
Height: 6-8 / 2.03
Weight:250 lbs. / 113.4 kg.
Salary: $18,000,000
Born: 11/29/94
Height: 6-8 / 2.03
Weight:250 lbs. / 113.4 kg.
Salary: $18,000,000
“He’s a beast as far as the details of the game. He doesn’t miss anything,” Julius Randle told the Daily News. “He makes sure everything we’re doing, we’re doing it the right way. And we’re doing it at game speed. And he’s all about us challenging each other, pushing each other to get better. So he’s a beast with details and how he operates in terms of pushing us and challenging us. And for us, we have a lot of young players. And that’s a great thing to be challenged like that.”
Randle said his camp participation was significant as he gets accustomed to new personnel. “For me, we have a lot of different moving parts, a lot of different faces,” Randle said. “Whether it’s the front office or it’s Thibs and our new coaching staff — we want to try to change this thing, get this thing turned around. In order to do that, we need to spend time with each other, get to know each other, learn what’s important to each individual. The one common thing is that we all want to win and so it was important for me just to spend time with the coaches and the coaching staff as well as my teammates. We haven’t seen each other in a while, we don’t know when the season is going to start next. It was important for me to do.”
In any blockbuster trade, the Knicks probably have to add the enigmatic but productive Randle into the mix. Adding Paul and the two years and $85 million left on his contract would likely kill their salary-cap space for the next two seasons. “I think both players are of equal value and I would even give Chris Paul an edge despite his salary and age,” ESPN cap guru and former Nets executive Bobby Marks told The Post. “I have concerns if Oladipo can get back to the high level he was before the injury. He is on an expiring contract and can leave as a free agent. He will likely not sign an extension. Where is he health-wise?”
One NBA personnel man said Dallas’ two first-round picks (2021, 2023), Julius Randle and Dennis Smith Jr. or Frank Ntilikina could whet the Pacers’ appetite. The 28-year-old Oladipo made the All-Star teams in 2018 and 2019, but could have lost explosiveness after tearing a tendon in his knee late in the 2018-19 season. Oladipo didn’t look sharp upon his return.
Julius Randle: RIP to a legend 🙏🏿@chadwickboseman 2020 is not the year smh
