The New York Knicks pulled off a huge offseason accomplishment last Friday by signing Jalen Brunson to a four-year, $156 million contract extension.
Next up is Julius Randle.
Randle will be eligible for an extension on Aug. 5. Randle is entering the third year of a $117 million contract, which will allow him to make $28.9 million in 2024-25.
According to Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily NewsThe 29-year-old forward is eligible for a four-year, $181 million maximum extension.
Extension negotiations for Randle may be a bit more complicated.
Randle is a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection since joining the Knicks in 2019. However, his play has been inconsistent in New York and he has struggled in the playoffs. Randle missed the Knicks’ entire postseason run this season as the Brunson-led team fell one game short of the Eastern Conference Finals despite a rash of rotation player injuries.
Randle would give the Knicks more size and a different element on offense. But as a mediocre shooter and iffy defender, Randle could be a tough fit for this Knicks roster. An extension might not be a no-brainer.
If it matters, Randle reportedly has at least one big admirer within the Knicks organization: owner James Dolan.
Fred Katz of The Athletic said on the “Knicks Film School” podcast: that Dolan “loves” Randle.
“James Dolan has been a big Julius Randle fan for years as well,” Katz said. “A big Julius Randle fan. He’s known to love Julius Randle… He loves Randle. He loves that Randle chose New York, he loves his game, he loves the way he plays.”
It’s worth noting that many people have reported that Dolan hasn’t been as involved in the Knicks’ decision-making in recent years.
Katz said the Knicks can I want to wait to give Randle an extension and see what this team looks like with high expectations. It could also allow the Knicks to have better control of their financial situation as they approach the dreaded second round, which greatly restricts how teams can build their rosters.
Katz noted that there are no known issues between management and Randle and that Randle is “highly respected.”
Randle would be well within his rights to want a max extension, given all the praise he’s received individually in New York. Randle has also surely heard the rumors that the Knicks could have challenged the Celtics had they been healthy — Randle’s absence left a gaping hole in the Knicks’ offense.
Brunson may have set a precedent on this Knicks team, though. He’s an All-NBA point guard and MVP candidate who left tons of money on the table to help the team build itself. Not every player has to follow suit, and perhaps Brunson’s sacrifice was intended to allow Randle to get paid. But the Knicks may feel uncomfortable about paying a max extension to a player like Randle, who is a better fit for the roster than Brunson.
Whether Randle gets an extension (and if so, for how much) could say a lot about the Knicks and their future direction.
