Julius Randle was far away from his team for too long, and it seems equations have changed on the New York Knicks roster right now. After Randle got out of the scene at January’s end of this year, everyone expected him to return by the postseason. However, it did not happen as I underwent surgery in April. Also, doctors warned him that it was “unsafe for him” to play, as per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Now, since Brunson has taken the leading role at the organization, Randle might not be the best fit with the team currently.

The 3x NBA All-Star is in the third year of his four-year $117 million contract and eligible for an extension. Yet the team has not offered any deal to Randle. In the postseason as well, Brunson took the whole responsibility on himself carrying the team to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. So, there might be a possibility Randle is traded from the team amid the loss of center Isaiah Hartenstein from the team. Now, Mitchell Robinson might get his spot, but Mitchell is quite injury-prone.

Even last year, he missed 51 games after sustaining an ankle injury on December 8, 2023, that required surgery thereafter. Discussing the same on NBA Today, ESPN insider Brian Windhorst revealed the worthy candidates for the Knicks. “It’s possible Walker Kessler could change team and he fits nicely about what the Knicks want to do. Also, I would say any team looking for a center is going to watch Robert Williams closely this year.”

And it’s feasible since Portland has drafted Donovan Clingan with no. 7 pick and also got Deandre Ayton in trade. So, the center’s role is not particularly the lacklustre department on the roster. That’s why the Knicks might be among the teams “monitoring him.” Hailing the 6’9″ stature, the ex-Celtics center averaged 6.8 points and 6.3 rebounds last season. But he is not the ideal candidate, not yet!

The ideal candidate for the center position in the New York Knicks, better than Isaiah Hartenstein

No doubt that Robert Williams III can be an alternative to the void left by Isaiah Hartenstein. However, as ESPN Insider suggested, Walker Kessler of Utah Jazz is the forerunning candidate of all of them. He has the same stature as Isaiah, hailing 2.13m on the vertical scale. He might not be equal to the new OKC center when it comes to defending the rim. But he balances it out on the scoring end.

Last season, he averaged 8.1 points and 7.5 boards on 65.4% field goal percentage. On the other hand, Isaiah averaged 7.8 points and 8.3 rebounds on 64.4% field goal percentage. So Kessler is definitely more efficient and might also contribute on the court, while Jalen Brunson is on the bench for the rest.

However, the Jazz have an issue with asking much more than they give. So unless when it comes to desperate requirements, the New York Knicks should not go for Walker Kessler. They have a well-settled team, and Robert Williams III can be the second-best, if not the best, fit on their roster right now.