New York Knicks forward Julius Randle has been in the trade rumor mill lately because he only has one year left on his current contract and has yet to receive a new long-term extension. However, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic, the team is not inclined to trade the 29-year-old star, at least for now.
Randle will earn roughly $29 million in the 2024-25 campaign and has a $30.9 million player option he can trigger next summer. If the New York Knicks plan to keep him in the long run, they could give him an extension worth up to $181.5 million in the next four years, but neither side is close to an agreement.
Julius Randle made it to his third NBA All-Star Team in 2023-24, averaging 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game on 47.2 percent shooting from the field. However, his campaign ended prematurely after he injured his right shoulder on January 27 in a win against the Miami Heat.
The 2021 Most Improved Player of the Year winner had to have season-ending surgery on his dislocated right shoulder, and he didn’t play at all during the playoffs.
Why Julius Randle’s future with the New York Knicks looks murky
In an ideal world, the New York Knicks will get to keep Julius Randle in the long term. But because they’re facing financial constraints, re-signing him to a new contract extension may be out of the question.
Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson have done their parts to reduce the team’s wage bill by taking pay cuts, but the New York Knicks would still be up against the second tax apron for 2025-26 when Julius Randle’s potential new deal kicks in.
