The New York Knicks are suddenly relevant again. Since the Carmelo Anthony trade, NYC hasn’t been this exciting for the upcoming NBA season. Thanks to the back-to-back electric playoff runs, the team’s future looks as bright as ever. And it has even led to Leon Rose making the first “major” move since taking over.
The ascension of Jalen Brunson into a bonafide superstar and the overwhelming haul given for Mikal Bridges does amp up the pressure, though. The Knicks walk into next season as arguably the second-best team in the league, if not better. However, the team still needs to figure out a few roster moves. Chief among them is Julius Randle‘s contract/trade situation.
The Julius Randle Situation
It feels impossible to imagine, but Randle was among the first to be responsible for elevating the Knicks. After multiple stars had shied away from the opportunity, Julius took it upon himself and led the team to the playoffs. As a result, his regular-season exploits made him a legendary fan favorite. However, in the playoffs, his play saw a significant drop-off.
But that was before Brunson became the lead dog in town. Cut to two years later, and Randle feels like the odd man out. Despite missing the playoffs, New York was fine without him, going to Game 7 in the second round. For most, that loss came down to the OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson injury rather than the former All-Star’s absence.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Julius Randle, New York Knicks Updates
Further, coincidental or not, New York has embraced the New York NovaKnicks identity. In Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges, they have a quarter from the former NCAA Champions. It is clear to see that Randle doesn’t belong in that picture. As a result, contract speculations and potential trades have made the rounds.
However, according to the latest reports, it looks unlikely that the Knicks will part ways with Randle. A cornerstone of the franchise for over half a decade now, Julius has become integral to the franchise. But the team is going to have to figure out the contract situation. While he has a contract option after this year, the likeliest scenario would be opting out and signing an extension. However, with $181.5 million on the board, Julius Randle might be too expensive for New York.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Julius Randle, New York Knicks Updates
At that price, a fan favorite could suddenly become expendable. So far, there have been no discussions about a potential trade in the Knicks camp, as the rumors suggest. However, with expectations sky-high in a volatile environment like NYC, one season could make or break Julius Randle and his future with the team.
The Jalen Brunson factor for Randle
A leader leads by example. Thankfully for the New York Knicks, they found their guy in Jalen Brunson; while he has been lighting it up on the court, earning genuine superstar buzz, and building elite chemistry, he is also setting a precedent for his teammates.
Despite having the possibility of signing a truly historic contract, Brunson gave up nearly $11-13 million with a four-year, $156.5 million contract last month. To put it in context, that number is nearly half of the Jayson Tatum contract extension.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Julius Randle, New York Knicks Updates
But, his extension might serve a two-fold purpose. While it gave him a secure future, it also set an example for his teammates. Already, there is speculation that Bridges will follow in his footsteps and take a discount. In the name of constantly competing and winning, the team could build a perennial contender. That ideology could follow others, making Julius Randle also take less than the maximum he could potentially get.
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