NBA executive believes Giannis Antetokounmpo & Julius Randle can mutually benefit playing on Milwaukee Bucks: “Giannis is one who comes to mind” 

Knicks forward Julius Randle could benefit from playing with Giannis Antetokounmpo in a mutually beneficial relationship, according to an NBA executive. Randle has been one of the Knicks' best players and has returned to an All-Star level of play this season. Playing alongside Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee could take Randle to the next level.

“Giannis is one who comes to mind,” an NBA executive said in a Heavy.com story.

The way this scenario works is the Knicks decide to trade Julius Randle, whom they have under contract until 2026. When an anonymous NBA executive spoke to Sean Deveney of Heavy.com, that person felt that Giannis would be a good fit to play alongside Randle because of how they could play off of each other.

“I am not saying that Milwaukee is beating down the doors to get Julius Randle, but that is the kind of star who could work well with a player with Randle’s skill,” the executive said.

The executive’s reasoning for the Knicks making this kind of move would be if they decided to make a youth movement and turn over the power forward position to Obi Toppin. Getting rid of a 28-year-old player who is playing his best basketball could be seen as selling high, but a trade to the Bucks could make them a perennial contender and cause the Knicks to take a step back.

Julius Randle is averaging 23.1 points per game along with 9.4 rebounds per game this season. New York (18-16) is in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks (22-11) are in second place, and Antetokounmpo is playing at an MVP level. Adding a player of Randle's caliber could put the team over the top. Antetokounmpo would have another interior player to play off of and would limit the double teams that he would see.

---

Can Giannis carry the Bucks back to the title?

The Milwaukee Bucks are built a little differently than other teams competing for a championship. They have one star in Giannis Antetokounmpo, and that is it. They have some good role players but not another clear-cut star. Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton can play like stars at times, but they haven’t shown they can carry the team if Antetokounmpo is off for any extended period of time.

Middleton may be the biggest disappointment because he has only played seven games this season and missed the playoffs last season. Giannis is still one of the league's best players and could win his third league MVP award this season. But him playing at the top of his game may not be enough.