Julius Randle, who was the first All-NBA player for the Knicks since Carmelo Anthony, helped lead the team to the playoffs before Jalen Brunson joined in 2022. Despite Randle’s success, his future with the Knicks is uncertain due to Brunson’s rise as the team’s star and the addition of high-priced role players like OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. ESPN’s Zach Lowe notes that the Knicks need to carefully manage their finances, which might impact whether they extend Randle’s contract.
Lowe points out that the Knicks are unlikely to offer Randle an extension right now. “This is a significant question for the league at the moment,” he says. “Randle is eligible for an extension, but none has been discussed yet. The Knicks need to handle their salary cap carefully and consider how to use the salary space freed up by Brunson’s presence.”
ESPN’s Bobby Marks agrees, noting that Randle’s eligibility for a four-year, $181 million extension would push his salary over $40 million, which is unusual for the Knicks. He also highlights concerns about Randle’s recent surgeries, including a serious shoulder injury that kept him out for much of last season.
Marks questions whether teams like Brooklyn or the Wizards would be willing to commit $40 million to Randle, suggesting that the Knicks might explore extending him or negotiating a new contract by the October 31 deadline, similar to what Josh Hart did.
Last season, Randle averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists but missed a significant portion of the season due to injury. Despite his absence, the Knicks achieved the No. 2 seed in the East, largely due to the acquisition of Anunoby, who contributed significantly with a 20-3 record.
With Brunson’s emergence and the addition of Anunoby and Bridges, Randle’s role on the team may be less central, potentially making him a trade candidate. The Knicks might explore his market value, but they could also see how a healthy Randle performs to determine if he can elevate the team to compete with the Celtics. If the Knicks decide to trade Randle, they might look for a center upgrade or consider using him as a small-ball center, which could influence their decision on whether to extend his contract.
