Julius Randle could help fill Isaiah Hartenstein void as Knicks continue center search

Tom Thibodeau is open to playing Julius Randle at center next season, but he fears that overexposing the All-Star to too much physicality could wear down his body.

“We’ll probably have to do (center) by committee,” Thibodeau told veteran writer Steve Aschburner in a Q&A published Tuesday on NBA.com. “We’ll look at some different things, because we have versatility — we could see Julius more at the 5. I don’t want to do that for long stretches, it would take its toll, but to have him do it for 10 or 15 minutes, I think he can do it well. He also would create a lot of [offensive] advantages.”

In the wake of Isaiah Hartenstein’s departure to OKC, the center rotation is the biggest concern internally with the roster, a team source said recently.

Mitchell Robinson is the starter but injury-prone after undergoing multiple surgeries, most recently on his ankle. 

The backups are Jericho Sims, who is unproven but athletically gifted, and the undersized Precious Achiuwa, who is viewed more as a power forward.

With training camp in two weeks, they’re still in the picture for backup center. 

And apparently so is Randle. 

At least in spurts. 

The Knicks front office, according to multiple NBA sources, has also been actively searching for center options on the free-agent/trade markets.  

Thibodeau was resistant in previous seasons to play Randle at the 5, prioritizing the rim protection and rebounding from traditional centers like Robinson, Hartenstein and Nerlens Noel.  

The coach was notably against lineups featuring power forwards Randle and Obi Toppin. 

It left Toppin frustrated by the sparse playing time as Randle’s backup and ultimately on the trading block.

But now the Knicks have two defensively versatile forwards to play alongside Randle — OG Anunoby and Josh Hart — which seems to provide Thibodeau more confidence to play without a traditional center. 

“We lost [Isaiah] Hartenstein, which is what we’ll have to replace,” Thibodeau said. “But I think we have versatility, where we can play smaller at times because of OG’s ability to guard big. Julius and [Josh] Hart can guard big as well.”

Randle at center would help optimize the Knicks’ overall talent on the court, with Thibodeau needing to get creative to find ample minutes for Hart and Donte DiVincenzo. 

Randle, who played center with the Lakers under coach Luke Walton, is recovering from shoulder surgery and hasn’t played since January.

He’s normally among the most durable in the NBA and committed to playing every game, but Randle will also turn 30 in November and could be a free agent after the season. 

Pounding with centers in the paint on a surgically-repaired shoulder, as Thibodeau implied, is dangerous — especially for a player without a contract extension. 

Randle’s been eligible for a four-year, $181.5 million extension since early August but there’s been no movement toward an agreement. 

Without an extension, Randle would become a free agent next summer by declining his $30 million player option for the 2025-26 season. 

“I think Julius has always adapted to whatever challenge he’s faced each year,” Thibodeau said. “People forget the level that he’s played at. Four years ago, he had a monster season and we didn’t have the shooting we have now, so the floor is going to be more open. We got a glimpse of that in January, which was his last month of basketball.”

Back then, Randle was firmly the power forward next to Hartenstein.

This time, there’s already a public statement from the coach that center is on the table – or at least as much center as Randle’s body can handle.

“People forget the guy was 25 (points), 10 (rebounds) and 5 (assists). He’s had a lot of success and he’s been a big part of winning the last four years in New York,” Thibodeau said. “The more good players you have, the more sacrifices you have to make. Not only by Julius, by everybody.”