The Complicated Return of Julius Randle

547 players have worn a Knicks uniform in the 79 years of the team’s existence. Some retired with the team, but many moved on to others and made anticipated returns to the Garden. We saw it last week when Isaiah Hartenstein came to MSG as a Thunder. And now, we will see the return of another 2020s Knicks staple: Julius Randle.

The departure of Hartenstein was understandable and could be reasoned away. He was coming off a great season, and the Thunder offered him more than the Knicks could, so he took the money for his first big contract. That decision was simple economics.

Randle, on the other hand, was traded for a high-end talent upgrade. The Knicks have championship aspirations, and it became clear there was a ceiling with Julius Randle as the team’s second-best player, one that didn’t involve hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy. As a result, Randle now plays in Minnesota. And as he returns to the Garden, as was often the case during his time here, his relationship with New York remains complicated.