On August 3, New York Knicks forward Julius Randle will be eligible for a contract extension. The 29-year-old can sign for up to four years and $181.5 million. Randle has clearly been a large part of turning around a Knicks franchise that had long been amongst the laughingstock of the NBA.
Knicks Cornerstone Eligible For Extension Starting August 3
Randle Is One Of The Longest-Tenured Knicks
Turning 30 years old on November 29, Randle is nearly the oldest member of New York’s roster (free agent signing Cameron Payne is a few months older). Entering his sixth season with the Knicks, only Mitchell Robinson has been a member of the team longer. In 2019, Randle signed with a New York team that had missed the playoffs six straight seasons. They missed again in his first season, but now have made it in three of the last four.
While not the full cause for the turnaround, Randle has become one of the league’s most productive power forwards. He has been named to three All-Star teams with the Knicks and has also been named to two All-NBA teams.
Will He Go The Brunson Route With A Contract Extension?
Similar to Jalen Brunson, Randle can earn more if he waits a year to sign a deal. If he waits a year, he could sign for an astonishing five years for $313 million. Brunson recently signed a four-year extension worth $156.5 million. Had he waited a year, he could have received a maximum of five years worth $269 million. While Brunson would have likely received all the money he left on the table by waiting a year, it’s far less certain the Knicks would have offered Randle the maximum allowed.
For the Knicks to reach their ultimate heights, they need Randle. Just look at how well they performed with him in the lineup in January after they acquired OG Anunoby. A dislocated shoulder at the end of the month ended Randle’s season prematurely. It did not allow him to change the narrative of being a player who struggles come playoff time.
Randle’s Postseason Woes
Prior to joining the Knicks, Randle played four seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the New Orleans Pelicans. He never experienced postseason basketball with either of those clubs. His first taste of playoff action came with the Knicks in the 2021 playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks. New York lost in five games in the opening-round matchup, and Randle had one of the most inefficient scoring series in recent memory. The final shooting numbers consisted of 29.8% from the field on 18.8 field goal attempts per game.
In the 2023 playoffs, New York beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games before falling to the Miami Heat in six. Randle shot a little better in that postseason than his first experience, but not much. In 10 outings, he shot 37.4% from the field and 25.8% from three-point range. Randle did not play in last season’s playoffs due to a shoulder injury. Now there may be valid reasons as to why he performed so poorly in those two postseasons. In 2021, Atlanta gave him so much attention as three of the Knicks’ other starters (Elfrid Payton, Reggie Bullock, and Nerlens Noel) weren’t much of a threat on the offensive end. In 2023, he sprained his ankle late in the season. He reinjured his ankle, and it forced him to miss Game 1 against Miami. Randle was not playing at 100%.
With teams fearful of reaching the second apron, the Knicks have an interesting decision on their hands whether or not to offer Randle a contract extension.
