Julius Randle: “I’m just under a different microscope here in New York“

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty ImagesThe New York Knicks entered the 2019 offseason with a clear objective in mind: landing a bonafide superstar with the chance of pulling off a two-for-one in getting both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. As luck had it, the Knicks ended up with empty hands—or did they?

New York ended up signing—among many other second-tier-at-best players—Julius Randle to a three-year, $63 million deal that summer, making him the face of the franchise along with former Knick and third-overall pick in the 2019 draft RJ Barrett.

Randle was coming off a career year with the Pelicans in which he averaged 21.4 PPG after spending four seasons in Los Angeles before…