AUGUST 27: Randle’s extension is official, the Knicks announced (via Twitter).
“Julius Randle embodies everything you want your star player and leader to be about, and we couldn’t be happier about the long-term commitment we made to each other,” said team president Leon Rose. “His hard work and dedication to his craft are second to none and what he did last season won’t be forgotten by New Yorkers any time soon. We can’t wait to see what’s next for him.”
AUGUST 5: The Knicks have agreed to sign forward Julius Randle to a contract extension, tacking on four years to the one season left on his existing contract, agents Aaron Mintz and Steven Heumann tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal will include a player option for 2025/26, per Wojnarowski.
While Wojnarowski reports that the four-year extension will be worth $117MM, that figure includes some incentives — the extension will have a base value of about $106.4MM and could max out at just over $122MM if Randle earns all of his bonuses in every season of the deal (which is very unlikely). It’s the most the Knicks could have offered Randle this season.
As Bobby Marks of ESPN notes (via Twitter), the incentives in the contract are related to making the playoffs, earning an All-Star nod, and making the All-Defense team. Randle earned the first two in 2020/21.
Randle, 26, had his best year as a pro this past season, establishing new career bests in PPG (24.1), RPG (10.2), APG (6.0), and 3PT% (.411), among several other categories.
The former seventh overall pick appeared in all but one regular season game, averaging an NBA-high 37.6 minutes per contest and helping to lead the Knicks to a No. 4 seed in the East and their first playoff berth since 2013. He was named Most Improved Player for the 2020/21 season and made the All-NBA Second Team.
Because Randle would be eligible for a longer, more lucrative contract if he waited until 2022 to reach free agency, there was some uncertainty about how willing he’d be to discuss an extension with the Knicks this summer. However, Wojnarowski writes that the former Laker and Pelican was eager to commit long-term to a team and city “he has come to adore.”
Randle also wanted to give the Knicks some financial flexibility rather than pushing for a higher salary in a year, per Marc Berman of The New York Post and Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter links). Of course, locking in a new deal now gives him some security in the event of an injury or regression next season.
It has been a busy week for the Knicks, who agreed to multiyear deals with free agents Evan Fournier, Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel, and Derrick Rose. All of those players are signing either three- or four-year contracts with team options in the final season. The club also intends to sign Kemba Walker, who should hit waivers soon after reaching a buyout agreement with the Thunder.
Randle’s deal represents one of several lucrative contract extensions agreed to around the NBA this week. Stephen Curry (Warriors), Trae Young (Hawks), Jimmy Butler (Heat), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) have all agreed to long-term deals worth well into the nine figures, while Luka Doncic (Mavericks) is set to finalize an extension following the Olympics.
Surprising good signing there
I’m happy for Julius, that he found a home in NYK. He works extremelly hard and deserves it.
Good signing. He really stepped up last season.
Randle gave up quite a bag by signing now. Huge respect!
Maybe but it could’ve also taken a turn for the worse like Schroeder or Oladipo. Best to just lock in that money now. It’s over 100 million. He’ll be fine.
It’s his first mega deal. And with kemba and Fournier in tow, it’s unlikely he gets as many offensive opportunities as he did last season. Better to get that generational money now than risk injury or a down year torpedoing your earning potential
A fair contract considering others that have been given. I’m not sold that what the Knicks have is the answer to making an appearance to the finals, in fact not even close, but at least some of the moves have seemed calculated and thought out.
Still think Scott Perry should go. Fournier was definitely his call.
It’s better than what they have been for years.
“Still think Scott Perry should go. Fournier was definitely his call.” Haha, don’t you at least maybe think you should wait for Fournier to actually fail before you fire him? Have you ever considered the possibility, maybe, that an NBA GM knows more about the subject of NBA talent than you? I know that’s highly unlikely, but don’t you think it would be prudent to allow for that slim possibility?
You mean like what he did in Orlando, Sacramento, and his first few seasons with the Knicks? He’s failed everywhere he’s been.
Perhaps you should consider doing some research. I’m sure that’s highly unlikely, but wouldn’t you think it would be prudent? :)
Knicks really have turned it around. Great resigning
Randle might’ve saw how stupid Oladipo and Schroeder looked for turning down extensions and decided to just take the money now. It’s over 100 million. He won’t regret it.
Great signing. Randle didn’t deserve the max contract. I’m just glad a player wants to play in MSG and stay.
Play-in games for the next 4-5yrs, here NYK comes
As opposed to what? Winning 20 games and praying for lottery luck or the big free agent to sign there? When does that work out for the Knicks?
Thank you Julius.
Randle gave us a discount. Shows how much he wants to be here. He and Thibs are a match made in Heaven. Looking forward to an exciting and fun year.
We may not be one of the super teams, but if we can look forward to 3-4 years of making the playoffs, vs the past 20 years of mostly horrors, I will gladly take it!
Been following the R Train since he was at UK. He sets a hard working example for younger players. NY needs another star to pair with him as too much of the load was on him during the ATL series. They have done that to some extent but Julius needs another player of equal or better talent.
barrett needs to become that other star. if he improves as much as last year he will be close
He’s 21 genius. We only need him to get better. We got plenty of offense this yr. So all that should help. RJ will be 2way star. Something you don’t understand.
So did you got that plenty of offence that year? I wonder how did that turned out..
Nice signing . We are not the top 3 in the East with this team but we will be competitive and improve the image of the knicks for the next three years . Then we can rise up. I believe we will have enough money to sign a max top player next year? Let us see what happens at least we have an identity now
Good work by Rose & Co. Randle was the first (threshold) item on phase one of my off season checklist. I kind of assumed it was done based on their moving thoroughly on the second item of retaining enough of the core for continuity (but good to see it finalized and reported). Upgrades were along the lines expected. PG situation has been addressed, if not in a way I most anticipated. Wanted Graham/Rose, but Walker/Rose might be better, and surprisingly less costly. The one big FA signing I expected being ended up being a wing, in Fournier. I’m lukewarm on that, but he’s a good fit. We’ll see.
Disappointed we couldn’t retain Bullock (or get a replacement that could defend bigger wing players), but it is what it is. Certainly wish him luck. Also, that we couldn’t trade up in the draft (they tried). That being the case, though, the FO did well in trading down. Grimes and McBride are great fits, and, with the extra draft capital, they’ll be better armed for the next opportunity.
Moving to the next phase, I could see a trade. But flexibility is paramount from now through the middle of next season. May be best to see what we have with the reconstituted group. Walker’s knee. Toppin. The rookies. Etc.
Randle and Marcus Smart were my favorite players in their draft. I actually watched college basketball that season, and I liked Randle so much, I literally watched every single one of his games, which is crazy b/c I really, really dont like college basketball. So happy for him. Well deserved
Knicks addressed their TWO biggest weaknesses. This is an analysis not Homer Vision. Randle was controlled in Hawks series. McMillan did a great coaching move. Yet Randle posted better stats than any Hawks big, funny how that is.
18 pts, 11.6 reb, 4 ast.
Knicks lost gm1 by a bad coaching move. All you had to do was play full court D. And you win. Then you go to Atlanta 2-0. Hawks were a better team, no doubt. But it shows you what a TEAM can do even when outmatched. Randle wasn’t exposed our OFFENSE was. You just add Fournier to that team and we win. Mitch is here for a contract yr. So he will anchor the D. Our bench is solid. We will still be a top D team. Kemba does not have to be a savior. He needs to get healthy and do his part. His stats last yr are more than enough. Knicks have one of best benches in NBA. We play as a team. We don’t depend on one guy to save us. Just like team D gets it done for good teams.
We never had good team offense. So it makes it easier for teams, especially in playoffs. To key on one or two guys. That’s not going to happen this yr. And if Kemba gets to 90%. We have plenty of offense to compete. We may not have that superstar. But we got depth and very good players still growing. We have team offense this yr. So it makes Randle and RJ better.
Fournier is a 20 pt scorer, shooter. Kemba is a 20 pt scorer. That’s 38 pts a gm we just added. And don’t sleep on Grimes and McBride. They will help next yr. Knicks are a two way TEAM. And this is a TEAM sport. We are better and can still get better cause our youth. We will be in the fight for top 4 in East. And Randle will lead the fight,
Crazy how a team like knicks just can’t seem to get it right. This team has no chance to compete most playoff teams….then eventually rebuilds in 2/3 years again….
Are you aware of how many years the Knicks went without even making the playoffs? This offseason has solidified them as a playoff team and has fans caring again. That is a win.
What did you want them to do? Get rid of Randle? You must be 12 or something….
They need to tank for 2/3 years and stock up on franchise changing talent. Building off mediocre talent and overpaying vets hasn’t worked this far. This team is going no where fast
What you don’t get Tats. Is every yr is a knew yr. Knicks have been a mess, true. New regime new coach and Dolan (owner) taking a step back. Has put us on good path. It’s only the second yr coming lol. We’ve built thru the draft. Randle is here cause of KP trade (draft). Our cap space is cause of KP trade. RJ. Mitch, Toppin, Quickley, Grimes, McBride all thru draft. This team is better than last yrs 4th seed. NYers aren’t fools. Only thing we are expecting is a better team than last yr. We’ll let the games decide the outcome. I know come playoff time we can compete with anyone. And we are deeper than most teams. We are thankful to be a playoff team again. With a bright future. We have over 10 picks in next three yrs. And 5 first rd picks. Yes we once were a mess. But it’s time to get informed. Knicks are doing it right. And are on a path to contend. Unlike the fair weather fan. We know it’s only the SECOND yr of this regime, this team. We like where we are.
Amen.
NYK are either brilliant or blinded by hope. If Mitch stays healthy they’ll be a fun team to watch
Now that Randle is signed longterm, he may embrace the Fournier/Walker styles more than he would have. The Knick offense has been boosted but I doubt the defense or EC rank will be equal to last year… not a terrible thing necessarily. They will need to jell, like CHI and WAS.
They kept Burks and lost Bullock and added some flair, very watchable.
He deserves the money, proved he can be the best player on a playoff team
I don’t think it’s a great signing. He is a solid number 2 player who disappeared in the playoffs once the hawks doubled him. I guess with the right players around him it helps but NBA players getting insane money.
Wow nice being a second tier player on a 3rd tier team. They think he is first tier player on a second tier team. This is what the Knicks are the Knicks. I know, I know “Tibs is the Coach” despite his first year of coaching is usually his best. Welcome to the Abyss