The New York Knicks have had a frustrating season, one that's on the verge of seeing them eliminated from postseason contention. Still, Julius Randle isn't giving up on New York yet.

Randle's agent, Aaron Mintz, said his client isn't looking for a trade away from the Knicks. When asked if reports that he wants a trade are true, Randle emphatically denied that is the case. 

“That’s just not true bro, it’s just not true. It’s just as simple as that," Randle said.

When asked if he can hold up to the scrutiny that comes with playing in New York, Randle simply said "I'm built for it."

The New York Knicks are expected by some NBA sources to shop Julius Randle in a trade for a package revolving around a center if they lose Mitchell Robinson.

Some around the NBA believe Randle is acting in a “James Harden type of way” to suggest he would like to leave the Knicks.

Sources say the lack of leadership from Randle has hurt the Knicks this season. One source said Randle sometimes dresses by himself in another area of the locker room.

The Knicks and Randle signed a four-year, $117 million extension last August. 

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed guard Jared Harper from the team’s G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, to a two-way contract.

Harper, 6-0, 175, appeared in two games with the Pelicans earlier this season, averaging 3.5 points and 1.5 assists in 5.0 minutes per contest. Harper has appeared in 13 career games across three NBA seasons with Phoenix, New York, and New Orleans.

In 29 games for the Squadron this season, Harper averaged 21.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.0 assists in 34.5 minutes per game.

Kemba Walker has been training in Charlotte and New York while he remains away from the New York Knicks. Walker could possibly return to the Charlotte Hornets this offseason.

Walker signed a two-year, $18 million deal with the Knicks during the 2021 offseason and is more likely to be traded near the draft than bought out.

Asked if Walker has been at the Tarrytown facility, Tom Thibodeau said, “No, he’s away from the team. That’s the way it is. He’s rehabbing, taking care of what he has to take care of.’’

Thibodeau said Walker is not working with team trainers.

“No, he’s away from the team,’’ Thibodeau said. “And that was agreed upon. Our management, his agent and Kemba, we just felt that was the best way to handle it.’’

The New York Knicks have agreed to sign Feron Hunt to a Two-Way contract.

Hunt is averaging 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 35.4 minutes over 27 games this season for the Texas Legends of the G League.

In a related move, the Knicks will waive Luka Samanic from his Two-Way.

The New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors discussed a three-team trade ahead of the deadline, but sources tell Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report that the talks fell apart when the Knicks sought more draft compensation.

The deal was centered on Cam Reddish and Alec Burks to the Lakers, Talen Horton-Tucker and Nerlens Noel going to the Raptors, while the Knicks would have acquire Goran Dragic plus Toronto's 2022 first round pick.

"They are always trying to squeeze out an extra second-round pick here and an extra second-round pick there," said a high-ranking Eastern Conference executive.

The Raptors eventually traded Dragic and a first round pick to the San Antonio Spurs for Thaddeus Young and a second round pick.

The New York Knicks are expected to retain Tom Thibodeau as head coach next season, sources tell Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.

The Knicks are outside the play-in tournament after finishing with the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference last season.

There has been some internal support, however, for moving on from Thibodeau.

"That's the danger of overperforming," said one rival team strategist. "You set this expectation."

James Dolan had granted the front office permission to either fire Thibodeau or retain him. Leon Rose has no plans to make a change away from Thibodeau. 

"It's not like they inherited him. This was Leon's guy," said one NBA coaching figure. "Leon would have to answer to that."

The Detroit Pistons project to hit the summer with a league-high $31 million in cap space. Reports are that Detroit would like to spend some of it on Mitchell Robinson.

The New York Knicks center will be an unrestricted free agent in July. New York could have sent Robinson to restricted free agency this past offseason, but chose to exercise a fourth-year team option to keep Robinson on his minimum salary for this season.

Despite some challenges staying healthy throughout his career, Robinson remains an intriguing talent. He'll turn 24 years old later this season, and will hit free agency coming off his first full year as a starter. Robinson has averaged 8.4 points on 76.9% shooting, 8.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 25.1 minutes per game.

Cam Reddish will miss the remainder of the season with a separated right shoulder.

Reddish is expected to recover in approximately six weeks, which will give him a full offseason of work. Reddish will be eligible for an extension in the offseason.

The New York Knicks acquired Reddish in January from the Atlanta Hawks.

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle was fined $50,000 for various infractions following an ejection on Friday night. Randle was ejected late in the third quarter, following an altercation with Phoenix Suns wing Cameron Johnson.

The NBA fined Randle for initiating an on-court altercation by shoving Johnson, making contact with a game official and for non-compliance with the NBA's investigation into the incident.