The Knicks have currently signed Julius Randle during the 2021-22 season, and Begley notes in his report that their interest in adding another forward does not necessarily mean that they are trying to switch from Randle.
Having said that, it’s unclear how Rose and the new front office hires Brock Aller, Walt Perrin and Frank Zanin feel about the dominant striker. Randle owed $ 18.9 million next season and has a guaranteed $ 4 million of the last $ 19.8 million to be paid in 2021-22.
Revenue affected by the coronavirus pandemic will surely have an impact on the free NBA agency in this offseason, which could change the way teams evaluate contracts on their books and make it difficult to move a player like Randle. However, demand for forward is probably not very high, regardless of the new economy.
The remaining veterans forward on the Knicks roster – that is Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson – are ready to walk in the offseason as they are in unsecured business or club options that are not worth exercising. New York also has Ignas Brazdeikis who was buried in the G-League this season.