With no contract extension yet between Julius Randle and the New York Knicks, speculation about the three-time NBA All-Star’s future is widespread.
If the Knicks were to make Randle available for trade, they might not receive fair value, according to a rival team’s assessment shared with The Athletic’s Fred Katz.
“Here’s the challenge with potential Randle trade discussions: I don’t think there’s any NBA team that values the three-time All-Star more than the Knicks do. When I reached out to a rival team’s front office about this, their response was as expected: ‘Neutral, at best,'” Katz wrote in his August 21 mailbag.
Randle is eligible for an extension this summer and could sign a contract worth up to $181.5 million for four years starting August 3. However, despite recently securing a team-friendly extension for star point guard Jalen Brunson and trading for Mikal Bridges, the Knicks have not yet offered Randle an extension.
SNY’s Ian Begley reported on July 7 that extension talks have not been a priority for either the Knicks or Randle.
Katz also noted that the Knicks are not actively shopping Randle.
**Knicks Betting on Randle’s Market Value**
Recovering from a shoulder injury, Randle is entering the final guaranteed year of his four-year, $117 million contract signed in 2021. He could become an unrestricted free agent after this season if he chooses to decline his $30.9 million player option.
The Knicks seem to be banking on Randle returning on more favorable terms next season, similar to the approach taken with Brunson and the upcoming free agency landscape.
First, Randle is unlikely to be the top player available if other stars like Paul George, Kyrie Irving, and Jimmy Butler opt out of their player options. Other notable potential free agents include Brandon Ingram, Jonathan Kuminga, Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Aaron Gordon.
Ingram, like Randle, is not expected to receive a max extension from the Pelicans. Kuminga, Green, and Sengun are all extension-eligible this summer, but their teams may hesitate to offer the full rookie max, possibly making them restricted free agents. Gordon’s future with the Nuggets will depend on their willingness to use the second apron of the salary cap.
Second, no championship-contending teams will have significant cap space like the Philadelphia 76ers this summer.
Projected teams with the most cap room for next summer include the Brooklyn Nets ($49.5 million), Houston Rockets ($30.6 million), Washington Wizards ($25.2 million), and San Antonio Spurs ($23.2 million), according to Keith Smith of Spotrac.
By the time Randle’s new contract starts, he will be 32 and approaching the latter part of his prime.
**Knicks Divided on Randle’s Fit**
The Knicks are split on Randle’s role, particularly given his recent shoulder injury that limited him to 46 games last season, as reported by Begley.
“Some within the organization believe Randle can integrate well with the current group and think his performance in January—following the OG Anunoby trade—supports this view,” Begley wrote on July 7.
In January, with a healthy lineup of Randle, Brunson, and Anunoby, the Knicks had a strong 12-2 record.
“Others are concerned about Randle entering this critical season with free agency on the horizon and the potential challenges it may bring. Additionally, some decision-makers are not as confident about the overall fit of the team,” Begley continued.
Randle earned his third All-Star selection last season, all with the Knicks, before being sidelined by a dislocated shoulder. He averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. Reintegrating him into a team that has increasingly revolved around Brunson, now the team captain, and another former Villanova player will be an interesting dynamic to watch this season.
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