There have been many rumors this offseason about a possible trade between the New York Knicks and All-NBA forward Julius Randle.
Links have emerged linking New York to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns, but there hasn’t been much movement on a potential deal in recent weeks. The Knicks are unlikely to swap salaries as Towns is heading to a massive four-year, $220.4 million deal that includes a $61 million cap hit through the 2027-28 season.
Trading Randle doesn’t make sense unless the Knicks find a player who can fill his role at an even higher level. Randle, who is 29, averaged 24 points last season, including 9.2 rebounds, five assists and shot .472 from the field in 46 games.
His season ended prematurely due to a dislocated shoulder, leaving the Knicks in disarray at power forward. The trade for OG Anunoby certainly helped make up for the loss of him to some extent, but the team can now leverage Randle to his strengths, which include playing close to the basket and using his aggression to drive to the iron and attract fouls.
However, Randle is entering the final year of a four-year, $117 million contract. He has a player option for the 2025-26 season at $30.1 million, but will likely opt for a big payday when he enters his 30s. He could secure a contract in the range of $40 million per season, if not a little more, with the new NBA media rights deal on the way – there’s no doubt he’ll capitalize on that opportunity, so the Knicks need to take advantage his talent now before having to let him go as a free agent next offseason.