Parting of the Trio: Blockbuster 4-team trade sends Brandon Ingram to rival Memphis Grizzlies, as Knicks' Julius Randle dons silver-and-black.

Earning the league's Most Improved Player award, despite his NBA debut as a Laker being stung by the injury bug and previously spending time with the Pelicans before joining the New York Knicks in free agency, Julius Randle had an impressive season of 24ppg/10rpg/6asg/0.9spg on 41% 3PT shooting. In exchange, Randle was given a four-year max salary extension, only for the New York Knicks to have a year they'd rather forget, with Randle shouldering most of the blame, whether deservedly so or not. Thus, a fresh start was needed.

A few summers ago, Coach Popovich remarked during the Olympics of Randle's work ethic, then during the following season Julius admired publicly the grit-and-grind style of the San Antonio Spurs. Despite a disappointing season following his personal best, Randle did show flashes of promise at being a primary--albeit not an ideal scenario--playmaker for the Knicks, similar to the classic skills of Earvin "Magic" Johnson and more recently of LeBron "King" James. Hardwood analysts wrote columns during the trade deadline and later this summer about the possibility of pairing Randle's point-forward and post-up talents with Dejounte Murray, who drew a lot of attention from the defense as the Spurs' floor general and would benefit from having a secondary option to initiate and orchestrate the offensive scheme of the winningest franchise in NBA history, along with his career defensive rating being at 109.6.

Over the summer, Randle has slimmed down and added even more muscle, showing more strength at the basket and desire to have another impressive stroke from long range, after dropping to 30% last season. At 6'8", Randle can see the whole court, capable of dishing the ball upwind after a fierce rebound. Julius is also known to show a fire, though inconsistent, on the defensive side, chasing down blocks. With the Spurs, that defense will need to be more consistent, but Randle offers so much else in scoring, size, facilitating, and by his consistent "old school" interior presence on the glass.

"That's the goal, yeah, to [keep winning as a Spur]. Play faster, recover better. Stay on top of your body and give yourself and your fans and your team the best version of you every night. To be able to play faster, on or off the ball, just being in shape, taking pride in it, ask myself 'how can I be better.' Now, I feel like I can play even faster, and that makes for quicker basketball, easier scoring opportunities for myself and for my new teammates. And it all starts with defense. I'm very excited," Randle enthusiastically told the San Antonio Times at his introductory press conference, wearing #30 like he's done with LA, New Orleans & New York. At 27 years old, Randle joins the core timeline of Murray, VanVleet, Drummond & Hield.

In return, the Spurs are dealing offensive threat, Brandon Ingram, to the Memphis Grizzlies, a tough rival from years past. Ja Morant gets a bonafide superstar counterpart in B.I--a past Finals MVP and Most Improved Player for the dynastic San Antonio Spurs--, no longer having the onus of putting the whole team's championship dreams on his slim shoulders. Ingram draws so much attention on the defensive end that Morant will be able to showcase his growing marksmanship, as sniper Desmond Bane slides up to the wing spot. The Grizzlies will be a formidable foe this season, no doubt. Heading to the Spurs is also two 1st Round Picks, backup playmaking PG T.J. McConnell from the Pacers for Trey Burke and a second round pick, a fierce defender who can nab one steal after the next with a career 108.8 defensive rating and consistent steals-per-game stat line. Donning Drummond's #1, McConnell is able to hit the open 3PT shot, with a three-year contract, as the rehabilitating Danny Green makes for a faux-reunion with San Antone, waived for salary-matching purposes as Green continues to rehab from a torn ACL.

By moving on from Randle's large contract, the Knicks free up salary cap space and embrace a retooling twist of a rebuild. In exchange for Julius, New York receives rookie forward, Jeremy Sochan and Malaki Branham, along with the veteran talents (and expiring contract) of Kevin Love, who will support Obi Toppin's developing game in New York, along with ex-Spur Evan Fournier joining the Knicks from Memphis, as Memphis similarly clears space to absorb Ingram's maximum salary contract. There was interest in acquiring Ingram from the Knicks, but reports say Ingram preferred a move to Memphis, as well as some concerns over the usage rate of both Ingram & Knicks young star R.J. Barrett, fresh off receiving his own rookie scale extension this summer. Having two ball-dominant players, not to mention Brunson's playmaking needs and gaining Branham as well as wanting to give Immanuel Quickley more action this year, dissuaded the Knicks from the prospect of B.I. heading to the Big Apple.

San Antonio gains the shot creation savvy of 6'6" Dillon Brooks, who drew mixed feelings from the Grizzlies faithful in years past. The Spurs grow even stronger on its perimeter defense by acquiring Brooks, who prides himself as a "stopper" and looks forward to backing up Freddie V and potentially ousting Buddy Hield from the starting lineup as the season unfolds. Despite his divisive impact on the Grizzlies, Dillon is capable of finding his own shot, an asset that would've been lost by Ingram's departure, salvaged enough to make the agreement worthwhile for all three teams. Brooks will be a restricted free agent next summer, and the Spurs hope that Dillon acclimates well into the silver-and-black squad.

Ingram's departure from San Antonio truly marks the end of one championship-decorated chapter in Spurs franchise history. He scored 64 points twice, once in the regular season, and in the playoffs, had several classic duels against LeBron James, Kevin Durant & Giannis Antetokounmpo. Most of all, Ingram took the keys from Kawhi Leonard, being the remedy for the "Kawhi-ghtmare" that now feels like it was so long ago, long before the assist-dishing, record-setting ascension of Dejounte Murray.

Brandon Ingram is still just 25 years of age, able to fit in seamlessly with Ja Morant, who is just 23 in his own right. B.I. hit several clutch shots for the Spurs over the years, prompting the death knell for the rival Philadelphia 76ers by once hitting three 3PT shots in a row to close out the NBA Finals, along with several buzzer-beaters (including one against the Sixers). Ingram has often been compared to Kevin Durant, and though he showed some promise at the 4-spot, Brandon has transitioned into more of a 2-guard in recent years, causing some tension with the alpha mentalities of Dejounte Murray & big-man Andre Drummond, all due to nothing more than Ingram's special individual talent as an isolation scorer.

Thank-you, Brandon Ingram, as the San Antonio faithful wish you nothing less than the best in Memphis. It will definitely be must-see TV when Murray & Ingram clash this season, with instant buzz already circulating around a potential Western Conference Finals meeting in the playoffs. "I've got mixed feelings, for sure," Dejounte Murray told reporters at media day, but clarified his support in the front office, while essentially being given the keys to the city. "Our entire organization will miss B.I., but I'm very excited for him in his career and I look forward to us meeting up on the court." As the star, title-adorned trio separates, the Spurs embrace the future, one led by Dejounte Murray and full of new faces that will make for a plethora of defensive intensity and long-range proficiency as the Spurs create beautiful team basketball.