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Knicks Trade is Great - However, Julius Got Us Here

I purposely took some time before posting on this recent trade. It came out of absolutely nowhere and left me in shock on that fateful Saturday night - even though, every Knick fan knew a Julius Randle trade was inevitable.

Karl-Anthony Towns is an amazing talent. He’s All-NBA. He’s an All-Star. And in many ways, he’s a very, very, very unique and select talent. Also yes, he has flaws. Who doesn't in today's debate-anything landscape? 

For pure basketball reasons, Towns as a Knick makes sense. The spacing is better. The options are better. The style of play is better defined. And the opportunity for the ultimate, an NBA championship, is increased.

However, this trade gets all the feels when we focus on Julius Randle. If you follow this little slice of the internet, you probably have gathered that I’ve been a loyal Randle supporter since arriving in 2010. His potential was there. Yes, he’s been frustrating. There were moments of high-level frustration. But Randle has been our guy. Growing pains will instantly connect you to a player like that.

He’s gone from being the consolation prize (loose usage of a prize) when Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and DeAndre Jordan took their talents to Flatbush over 7th Avenue.

We ended up with Randle. And at the time, it was mocked (as always) by the mainstream circles. 

For the next five years, Randle shouldered a franchise looking to dig itself out from 20 years of futility by improving himself - becoming a three-time all-star and all-NBA player, and a (comeback player of the year thrown in). Julius' career reflects that journey of our turnaround.

I wholeheartedly admire that kind of grit from individuals and their journey. For Randle, we saw his ugly, and we watched him grow. He embraced the challenge. Didn't run from it. He was ours. When nobody believed in his talent. The same way when no one believed we were an option.

I’ll forever root for that guy. Always. 

And dare I say, he's already an all-time Knick. 

As for KAT - we got our final big piece. Possibly, the best big man since Pat Ewing ran the garden floor. Big comparisons - but we're in that space now. 

The goal is a championship. And damn, that’s exciting (and scary)! 

However, as Julius so eloquently coined back in that memorable 20-21 run, "We’re here!"

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