Tom Thibodeau is open to using Julius Randle under center next season, but is concerned that exposing the All-Star to too much physical strain could wear him down.
“The center will probably have to be done by committee,” Thibodeau said. Veteran author Steve Ashburner said: “We'll look at some different things because we have versatility,” he said in a Q&A published Tuesday on NBA.com. “You're going to see Julius at the 5 more. I don't want to do that for an extended period of time. It's going to be a strain, but if we give him 10 or 15 minutes, I think he'll do well. He's also going to create a lot of opportunities.” [offensive] “advantage”
Team sources said recently that the center rotation is the team's biggest internal concern following the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein to Oklahoma City.
Mitchell Robinson is a starter but has had multiple surgeries and has been prone to ankle injuries recently.
The backups are the unproven but athletic Jericho Sims and Precious Achiuwa, who is undersized but looks like a power forward.
Training camp begins in two weeks, and they are still in the running for a backup center.
Apparently, so does Randle.
At least, temporarily.
According to multiple NBA sources, the Knicks front office is also actively pursuing center options on the free agent/trade market.
Thibodeau resisted using Randle as the 5 last season, prioritizing rim protection and rebounding from traditional centers like Robinson, Hartenstein and Nerlens Noel.
The coach specifically opposed a lineup featuring power forwards Randle and Obi Toppin.
Toppin grew frustrated with his limited playing time as Randle's backup and was eventually targeted for a trade.
But the Knicks now have two defensively versatile forwards who can play alongside Randle in OG Anunoby and Josh Hart, which should give Thibodeau more confidence in playing without a traditional center.
“We lost. [Isaiah] “Hartenstein is a guy that we're going to replace,” Thibodeau said. “But I think OG has the versatility to be able to play with a smaller guy at times because he has the ability to guard a big man. Julius and [Josh] Hart can also be a big guard.”
Randle at center would help maximize the Knicks' overall talent on the court, but Thibodeau will need to get creative in giving Hart and Donte DiVincenzo enough playing time.
Randle, who played center for the Lakers under coach Luke Walton, is recovering from shoulder surgery and has not played since January.
Randle is typically one of the toughest players in the NBA and is eager to play every game, but he turns 30 in November and could become a free agent after the season.
As Thibodeau suggested, attacking a center hard in the paint on a shoulder that has had surgery is risky, especially for a player without an extension.
Randle has been eligible for a four-year, $181.5 million contract extension since early August, but no movement has been made on a deal.
Without an extension, Randle will decline his $30 million player option for the 2025-26 season and become a free agent next summer.
“I think Julius has always adapted to whatever challenges he's faced every year,” Thibodeau said. “People forget what level he's played at. Four years ago, he had a great season, but we didn't have the shooting power that we have now, so the floor is going to be more open. We got a glimpse of that in January, his final month of basketball.”
At the time, Randle had established himself as the power forward second only to Hartenstein.
This time around, the coach has already publicly stated that a center is on the list, or at least as long as Randle's body can handle it.
“People forget he had 25 (points), 10 (rebounds) and five (assists). He's had a lot of success and been a big part of winning the last four years in New York,” Thibodeau said. “The more talented players you have, the more sacrifices you have to make. Not just Julius, but everybody does that.”
