The Knicks owe it to Julius Randle to keep him around

The New York Knicks came within one game of making the Eastern Conference Finals. They navigated a plethora of injuries throughout the postseason, still finding ways to be highly competitive. Julius Randle was absent for the entire playoff run. 

As such, his long-term future with the franchise has become a legitimate talking point. 

However, during a recent interview with Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, Randle reiterated his desire to remain with the Knicks for the foreseeable future. 

“I’ve always said from the very beginning I would love to be here in New York and I would love to continue to add on to what the guys did in the playoffs," Randle said. "I feel like that was my personal — biggest personal goal, or I’d say team goal in a sense, was when I got here is to be able to build and compete and to be at the point where we’re at now, where it’s an actual possibility (to win a championship)." 

Randle has two years remaining on his current $117M deal. He has a player option for the 2025-26 season. He will likely opt out of his contract at the end of next season in search of a longer-term contract. 

The Knicks could look to trade Randle rather than be forced to pay him. Yet, that could prove to be a mistake.

Since joining the Knicks in 2019, Randle has helped establish Tom Thibodeau's team as a force in the Eastern Conference. He has been named an All-Star in three of his five seasons with the team. He finished eighth in MVP voting in 2021. He was also named as the 2021 Most Improved Player. 

Randle has flourished as a primary option in Thibodeau's grit-and-grind system. 

The Knicks are known for falling into the trap of star names. The city of New York is built for superstar talent. The big market is a major draw, as is the nightlife. 

However, Thibodeau's team has gotten this far without a bonafide superstar. Instead, they have developed Brunson into a player who's potentially a top-10 talent in the NBA. Randle helped build the platform that Brunson is currently shining on. He helped turn the Knicks franchise around. 

Moving on from the veteran forward while he's still in his prime could backfire. Despite his frustrating inconsistencies at times, Randle has been the lifeblood of the Thibodeau-era Knicks. 

He leads by example and knows what is expected of him. He has made 330 regular-season appearances for the Knicks, averaging 22.6 points, 9.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists while shooting 45% from the field and 33.8% from deep. 

Unless trading Randle brings in a genuine superstar, the Knicks will likely be better served keeping him around. He's earned the opportunity to compete for championships with the franchise. It would be cold-hearted for him to be shipped out now that the team is finally on the brink of something special.