Julius Randle's contract situation with the New York Knicks projects to be a talking point throughout the upcoming season. The three-time All-Star has two years left on his $117 million deal. However, the final year is a player option. If Randle opts out at the end of the upcoming season, he could potentially walk away from the franchise, with them getting nothing in return.
As such, the Knicks have a tough decision to make. They can either negotiate a contract extension with Randle or test his trade market around the NBA. A caveat to potentially exploring an extension is that Jalen Brunson took a team-friendly deal this summer, and the front office will be unlikely to waste the additional flexibility he afforded them.
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, who hosted a recent episode of "The Hoop Collective" podcast, the Knicks should explore Randle's trade value. Windhorst believes Randle could have a deep market if New York made him available in negotiations.
"A very attractive, $29 million this year," Windhorst said. "His player option for next year is $31 million. His value, if he’s 100%, is more than that. There is no reason why, if he’s playing at the top of his game, why he shouldn’t consider opting out of that...Because of that $29 million salary, he’s extraordinarily tradable. And, the Knicks still do have a couple of extra first-round, not extra there’s no extra anymore, but the Knicks do still have a couple of first-round picks they can move.”
When healthy, Randle is one of the better forwards in the NBA. He is an elite three-level scorer, a reliable defender and an impressive rebounder. However, having been present for the entirety of Tom Thibodeau's rebuild with the Knicks, his value may be intertwined with the team's style of play. The Athletic's Fred Katz recently made a similar assessment in an Aug. 21 article.
"Here’s what makes discussions about hypothetical Randle trades so difficult: I don’t believe there is a team in the NBA that would value the three-time All-Star more than the Knicks do," Katz wrote. "...Randle’s contract is fair. He makes $28.9 million this season and can become a free agent next summer. But the fear of having to pay him, especially when his skill set makes him such a specific fit, makes it difficult to find suitors willing to give up any package that would be worth it for the Knicks."
The Knicks recently added Mikal Bridges via trade. That deal is supposed to be the finishing touch to a roster than is now capable of challenging for an NBA championship. Removing Randle could set the Knicks back. He is still their second option on offense and a key part of their defensive system. The Knicks have a hard choice to make, and it could hang over their heads until they choose a path and commit to it.
