New York Knicks: Julius Randle’s NY Future Faces ‘Tougher Question’ Than Jalen Brunson’s

Julius Randle’s Outlook With the New York Knicks

The big question for Randle and the Knicks is whether the team would soon offer an extension deal for the Kentucky Wildcats product. As mentioned by Steve Popper of Newsday, the Knicks could potentially let the summer go by without extending a new deal to Randle just to see how his body would respond to live action once he’s healthy to play again.

Will the Knicks lock up Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle?

Both players are eligible for contract extensions. The Knicks could lock them up this summer, but they are very different decisions. Brunson turned out to be a bargain free-agent signing two years ago at $107 million for four years. All indications are he won’t hold the team up now, and that he’s willing to sign a four-year, $156 million contract extension.

That would remove his fourth season from the current deal and provide five more years of certainty in New York, rather than waiting until next summer for a five-year, $270 million extension. Randle is a tougher question. He also is on a team-friendly deal but suffered a serious shoulder injury this season. Could they opt to wait and see how his shoulder holds up?

Randle was not able to help the Knicks on the court in the playoffs due to a surgery he underwent to repair his shoulder injury late in the regular season. In five seasons so far with the Knicks, Randle has averaged 22.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists through 330 games played.