Julius Randle comments 'wanted' after Knicks trade

Julius Randle put in “blood, sweat and tears” for the Knicks before being shocked by the Timberwolves' trade, but the power forward has already felt a “breath of fresh air” from his new franchise.

“It's very important, you want to be somewhere you feel you want to be,” Randle said. “And I think I want to be here. I feel like everyone has really embraced me.”

Randle, who spent five roller-coaster seasons with the Knicks, became the franchise's greatest player since Carmelo Anthony.

He earned three All-Star appearances, two All-Star bids and reached No. 17 on the all-time scoring list.

But Randle was also eligible for an extension that wasn't forthcoming, and some in the Knicks organization felt he wasn't a good fit with Jalen Brunson.

Just two days after Randle was honored at the South Bronx High School groundbreaking — a ceremony attended by the Knicks front office — news broke that he had been dealt with Donte DiVincenzo for Karl-Anthony Towns.

“It was a lot of emotion. You spend a lot of time in one place, New York, you remember going there five years ago and aiming to accomplish great things. A lot of blood, sweat and tears go into that organization and the uniform,” Randall said. “So initially it's always going to be a shock. But for me, afterward, I woke up the next morning and I was really, really excited. A breath of fresh air. breath.”

Randle was also excited to reunite with Minnesota coach Chris Finch, who guided the All-Star as an assistant for one season in New Orleans in 2018-19.

Randall said Finch simplified the game like no other coach before or since, including Tom Thibodeau.

“When I put Finch in New Orleans, I wanted him in New York with me. Because he is a great coach. I always thought he was a genius. He is a great communicator. Knows how to get the best out of his players,” Randle said. “I felt he opened up my game and I became a really versatile player. Playing there, and even still up to this point, it felt like the easiest game I've ever played. Because he's really good.”

Rendell added that his surgically repaired shoulder is “fine” and “I'm healthy.” He can become a free agent in the summer.

“I want to be here,” Randle said.

DiVincenzo, meanwhile, played only one season with the Knicks but became a fan favorite and knocked down one of the biggest shots in recent franchise history, a 3-pointer to bury the Sixers in Game 2 of the first round.

Although the acquisition of Mikal Bridges meant DiVincenzo would likely come off the bench next season, a source said he would accept that role and not want to leave the Knicks.

“When you look at the big picture, I didn't mind which teams were interested in me. When I was in New York, I was totally there. I wanted to be there. And when picking up this kind, I realized it was an opportunity. And when it became a real thing, my mind completely went straight to Minnesota,” DiVincenzo said. “And I immediately thanked everyone from my time in New York. Lots of love there. But once I realized it was a real thing and actually happened, my mind shifted to Minnesota. And I'm 100 percent here and excited.”

Precious Achiuwa, perhaps the first backup frontcourt player on the Knicks bench, is bullish on the defense's potential.

“We can become a monster,” Achiua said Thursday. “Looking at guys like me, OG [Anunoby]Highly defensive minded player. Defensively we can take the life out of teams. I think we can rely on that to win games.

The Knicks own one of the top wing defensive threesomes of Anunoby, Bridges and Josh Hart.

However, there are question marks over rim protection, with Towns replacing Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson.

Achiuwa filled in for injured frontcourt players last season and averaged a career-high 1.7 blocks per 36 minutes.