Julius Randle and the New York Knicks are perfect for each other

The New York Knicks are being ridiculed and mocked at an overwhelming rate based on not signing a superstar free agent such as Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving. Concurrently, in the midst of public hysteria over what they haven't done, the Knicks pulled off a phenomenal signing, agreeing to terms with forward Julius Randle.

Sunday night, the Knicks agreed to a three-year, $63 million deal with Randle.

Randle had a career year with the New Orleans Pelicans this past season. Averaging a career-high 21.4 points, to go along with 8.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, he was one of the most productive big men in the NBA. He also shot a career-high 34.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Randle has a savvy offensive skill set. He plays in the post, handles the rock, gets to the rim off the dribble, is a slick passer, hits the boards at a plausible rate, and finishes through contact. He can thrive in any offense, but in today's NBA, he's a rare breed. You don't see 6-foot-9 forwards playing like old-school big men, or in the post for that matter; he will be a seamless fit in head coach David Fizdale's rotation.

The Knicks starting five was mostly in place going into the NBA's free agency period. Dennis Smith Jr. has the keys to the offense with RJ Barrett and Kevin Knox out on the perimeter and Mitchell Robinson at center. Randle is the ideal player to be in-between Knox and Robinson.

Knox endured several growing pains in his rookie season, but showed a continued ability to play with aggression and get inside off the dribble. He also showcased a tendency to settle for outside jump shots. With that said, Knox isn't adept at playing in the post — which is where Randle's skill set takes center stage. With Knox creating separation and playing outside, Randle can get position inside to draw fouls and finish.

If Randle gets double-teamed, he can pass to Robinson. The center is an athletic big man who is adept at being on the receiving end of alley-oops and finishing relentlessly inside. Like Knox, Robinson isn't a post threat. He has a skinny frame, and the Knicks look to him for shot-blocking (Robinson averaged a remarkable 2.4 blocks in just 20.6 minutes a game this season) and points in the paint. Randle's arrival allows Robinson to be himself, as they virtually have opposite offensive skill sets.

Another crucial aspect of Randle's arrival is the impact it has on the Knicks' efforts in determining definitive go-to scorers. Right now, their two best pure scorers are Barrett and Smith.

While he hasn't played a single NBA game, Barrett showed off a well-rounded skill set with the Duke Blue Devils, playing in isolation, finding the open man, and serving as an offensive focal point; he averaged 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Barrett can handle the rock and is likely going to, in time, be the Knicks go-to scorer; his offensive skill set is one of a primary scorer.

The Knicks acquired Smith as part of their return on trading Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks before the NBA trade deadline, after the big man requested a trade and threatened to go back to Europe if the Knicks didn't move him. Smith has been the most glanced-over aspect of that trade. He has an alpha-dog mentality, is extremely athletic, penetrates inside, and with a training camp with the Knicks soon-to-be under his belt, he'll be more accustomed to their offense.

The Knicks have a player who they can throw the ball to inside to score in Randle, which defenses will likely fortify their efforts toward shutting down. This allows Smith and Barrett to play to their strengths. They can play in isolation, get to the rim, and potentially draw double-teams — which will open up a player baseline, whether it be Knox or Robinson. This adds a much-needed dimension to Fizdale's offense.

Randle is 24. He has steadily improved every year he has been in the association, is a versatile scorer given his recently improved three-point shooting, and gives the Knicks a tenured and proven player. Sure, he still has a ways to go before being labeled a reliable defender, but the impact he's going to have on the offensive end is worth the price of admission. He's going to provide balance to an offense that was unpredictable this season.

In the theoretical scenario where Randle's presence doesn't go as the Knicks planned, they have a team option on the third year of his contract, meaning they can cut ties; this is a theme with all of the signings team president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry have embarked on over the past 48 hours.

Added onto signing Randle, the Knicks agreed to deals with big men Bobby Portis (two-year, $31 million deal) and Taj Gibson (two-year, $20 million deal), wings Reggie Bullock (two-year, $21 million deal) and Wayne Ellington (two-year, $16 million deal), and point guard Elfrid Payton (two-year, $16 million deal). Portis gives the Knicks tenacity and a young frontline scorer; Gibson gives the Knicks size and veteran pedigree; Bullock and Ellington give them outside shooting; Payton gives them point guard depth.

All these players enhance the Knicks roster, from a talent standpoint. The burning question is how will they mesh, considering how the Knicks are adding three big men when they already have Robinson? Meanwhile, one could argue that Bullock and Ellington will take valuable minutes away from young wings such as Allonzo Trier and Damyean Dotson.

In all likelihood, they're all going to get reasonable minutes considering the contracts and skill sets they own; though the fit is just a bit odd. On the other hand, the Knicks have team options on the second year of each of their contracts, so they could all potentially end up being one-year deals anyway.

The Knicks are beefing up their roster with size and outside shooters. The jury is out on many of these decisions — mostly because they went into the summer with roughly $70 million in cap space — but when it concerns signing Randle, there should be zero second-guessing. He's still young, coming off the best season of his career, and will start from the get-go.

Julius Randle and the New York Knicks are perfect for each other.