Could Knicks Sign Julius Randle to Extension?
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle missed the team's postseason run, and that proved costly when the team lost in seven games to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Randle was among a slew of injured players for the Knicks who were either limited or missed Game 7 of the series entirely. It was clear that the Knicks missed Randle that day and throughout the playoffs.
Even though he appeared in just 46 games for the Knicks this season, Randle proved to be a key piece to the puzzle. That could come up in extension talks this offseason.
"Randle will be eligible for an extension on August 3, and New York may prefer to keep him long-term. Much will likely hinge on the caliber of player the Knicks find available and whether they view swapping out Randle for him as a net positive for the roster," Bleacher Report writes.
The Knicks have long sought out for a star alongside Jalen Brunson, and that could be Randle. However, Randle could also be the key player going to another team in a trade with the Knicks. Given the money and talent, it would be hard to make any deal for a star without him.
Randle has one more year on his contract before a player option in the 2025-26 season worth $32.4 million kicks in. If he has another injury-filled season in 2024-25, he would likely opt in to that year.
The Knicks' decision is massive this offseason, which is why it would be difficult to see Randle sign an extension. New York probably wants as much flexibility as possible, and if the team signed him to an extension, it would lock them in to this core that hasn't gotten out of the second round yet, which isn't the overall goal for the Knicks.
JEREMY BRENER
Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.