With Zion in the mix. Julius Randle will bolt for a new scene.

Randle improved last season and has unique all around skills that he is still developing. He rebounds like a monster, can pass, improved his 3 point stroke, gets buckets quickly . Knicks have need at PF, he is 24 and will command less than max. He had a 45pt 11reb 6ast 2stl 3blks 2threes performance vs Portland earlier this season.

Other than the stats he has rare handle and quickness for a player his size. He can get a rebound and lead a fast break. Gets a little sloppy at times with TOs but gets to the line a bunch and has held a 60%TS last 2 seasons as he has improved. Defensively he has shown to be in the positives for his career though not a stopper.

If we sign Kyrie and they move AD to say Boston. Wonder if Pelicans would be intersted in a S&T of say Smith, Frank & Lance unguaranteed deal? Would we have to guarantee Lance's contract for the cap # to work or nah? But I think Randle is a perfect 3rd option to those guys and a real nice compliment ot Mitch and KD due to his skill set.

There’s one scenario in which a sign-and-trade may genuinely make sense — if a free agent wants to join a team without cap room. However, even that scenario can’t necessarily be handled like a normal trade, since the Base Year Compensation (BYC) rule often applies.

The BYC rule applies to a specific circumstance. If a player is being signed-and-traded via Early Bird or Bird rights by a team above the salary cap, gets a raise of at least 20%, and his salary is worth more than the minimum, his cap figure for salary-matching purposes will be affected. For the team acquiring him, his full salary would apply in a trade. For the team trading him, he would count for his previous salary or 50% of his new salary, whichever is greater.

If Durant wants him, we can get him. But I don't know how.