The New York Knicks can now cross one center off their list of offseason targets. According to Eric Nehm of The Athletic, Milwaukee Bucks star Brook Lopez is highly valued by his team. Bucks general manager Jon Horst made it clear on July 26 that the team has no plans to trade Lopez.
Horst commented, “Rumors and speculation are part of what makes the league interesting, but since Brook is a key part of our team, we have no intention of moving him.”
Lopez would have been an attractive trade option for the Knicks this summer. The 7-foot-1 center is an outstanding defender and rim protector, finishing second in the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year voting and averaging 2.4 blocks per game last season, ranking second in the league.
Meanwhile, the Knicks and star forward Julius Randle are in a position to discuss a $181.5 million extension. The Knicks have already addressed Jalen Brunson’s contract situation by giving him a new four-year deal, avoiding the need to wait until he becomes a free agent next year.
Randle is entering what is likely the final year of his four-year, $117 million contract, with a player option for the 2025–26 season worth $30.9 million. Despite being one of the Knicks’ top performers and one of the league’s leading power forwards, the team may be hesitant to commit $45.2 million per season, especially given Randle’s recent shoulder surgery.
The Knicks may prefer to save their funds and wait to see how Randle performs post-surgery, rather than extending him now. With several talented players expected to be available in free agency in 2025, patience could be the better strategy.
Last season, Randle averaged 24 points, 9.2 rebounds, and five assists while shooting 47.2% from the field, and he earned his third All-Star appearance despite playing only 46 games. Extending Randle would mean tearing up the final year of his current contract and adding an extra $15 million to the Knicks’ salary cap.
Although Randle’s inconsistency and defensive lapses have been concerns, his elite rebounding and scoring ability make him valuable.
