The futures of Julius Randle and the New York Knicks may not intertwine. And that could be determined as early as this offseason, with the All-Star forward set for an extension.
If the Knicks decide to move on from Randle this summer, a trade will be necessary. He is under contract through the 2024-2025 season with a player option for 2025-2026.
One option that could present itself is trading the All-Star for Kyle Kuzma from the Washington Wizards in a blockbuster deal.
Knicks receive: Kyle Kuzma, 2027 first-round pick, 2030 first-round pick
Wizards Receive: Julius Randle
Nearly a year away from free agency, Randle won’t get a king’s ransom from any team.
But to find a player of Kuzma’s caliber, with the addition of two first-round picks, Leon Rose and the New York front office can continue to accumulate resources and guaranteed salary, for an inevitable exchange of stars.
Randle played just 46 games in the regular season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury that sidelined him for the playoffs.