Could Usman Garuba Help Solve the Knicks' Julius Randle Depth Problem?
Drama is hard to come by at this point on the NBA calendar: almost all of the marquee free agents have found new homes, the schedule for the upcoming season has been released, and trade discussions are more bluster than bite. Fortunately for the devotees of the dribble, the FIBA Basketball World Cup, which tips off on Friday, should be able to hold them over.
New York Knicks observers of both the amateur and professional variety are particularly centered on the latter two occurrences: four active New Yorkers are set to partake in the World Cup proceedings and the Knicks' name lingers in trade rumors for stars like Joel Embiid, Damian Lillard, and even Donovan Mitchell.
As they prepare to build on what was by far their most successful season in a decade, however, the Knicks have quieter, if not potentially costly, issues to deal with. An equally inconspicuous solution could linger in the newly released Usman Garuba.
Garuba was released by the Oklahoma City Thunder was Monday, the latest transaction in a well-traveled offseason. The 21-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Houston Rockets and made it to Oklahoma City as the endgame of two trades within four days (he was sent to Atlanta in the first deal).
A first-round pick of Houston's in 2021, Garuba struggled to generate a lasting role in the Rocket rotation, mostly backing up Alperen Sengun in the interior. He still managed to be efficient, hauling in 4.1 rebounds over 12.9 minutes a game (75 appearances). Garuba is set to assist Spain in its upcoming World Cup title defense and has already earned numerous international awards in both league and tournament play. He was the MVP, for example, of FIBA's U16 European Championship in 2016, earning a gold medal for his trouble as well.
In their current iteration, the Knicks' undoubted franchise faces Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle. The latter is set to enter his fifth season in New York, a polarizing tenure that has yielded two All-Star appearances and countless questions over whether he can be the headliner of a championship-contending group.
For as many debates as Randle's time in Manhattan has inspired, there's no denying his durability: ever since he sustained a tibia injury during his professional debut with the Los Angles Lakers in 2014, Randle has appeared in at least 71 games in all but one of his subsequent eight seasons between Los Angeles, New Orleans, and New York. That streak was only broken during the 2019-20 season when COVID-19 shutdowns canceled the Knicks' final 16 games.
Randle had full intentions to play all 82 but a late ankle injury forced him to sit out the final five. The Knicks' All-Star returned for the postseason run but was clearly not his full self, averaging 16.6 points (nearly nine less than his regular season average) and shooting only 37 percent from the field. Obi Toppin did what he could to stem the bleeding but that apparently wasn't enough to convince the Knicks to invest in his long-term future: Toppin, the eighth pick of the 2020 draft, was dealt to Indiana for second-round picks earlier this summer.
Trading Topping might've been necessary in the name of working through a high-potential season with as little drama as possible. But it left the Knicks in a relative pickle when it comes to relieving Randle: as it stands, the top option is likely Isaiah Roby, whose Summer League endeavors proved he might need a little more time to work off a lingering ankle injury. Traditional center Jericho Sims could be an option now that his contract is guaranteed but his own struggle to develop a lasting prescience in the Knicks' rotation is likewise hampered by injury, as he underwent a shoulder procedure shortly before the playoffs.
It seems like such a small issue: if Randle believes himself capable of playing all 82 games, one can certainly applaud his steadfast dedication to the craft in the era of load management. But sometimes a day off or two can be good for the basketball soul.
Among the 10 players (a group that includes New York's Isaiah Hartenstein) that played 82 games last season (including Phoenix/Brooklyn's Mikal Bridges, who played 83 after the trade between the Suns and Nets), only three (Hartenstein, Kevon Looney, Derrick White) played for teams among the final eight on the bracket. The fact that the Knicks and their 29 brothers could be dealing with excess travel and a potential 83rd game thanks to the inaugural In-Season Tournament will only heighten the need for depth in the modern Association.
Garuba has enough upside to help the Knicks both now and later, blessed with just enough upside and potential to linger with any team as a potential project with the capability of contributing immediately. He'd be an addition that wouldn't move any sort of needle in terms of the Knicks' championship prospects or spot in the Eastern Conference hierarchy but could certainly help put the roster observers' minds at ease moving forward.
There will be plenty of opportunities for Garuba to showcase his talents to potential suitors: La Roja's title defense begins on Saturday morning when it tips off Group G play against Ivory Coast in Jakarta (9:30 a.m. ET, ESPN+).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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