Knicks’ Julius Randle Predicted to Get Traded to West Team: ‘That Would Be Nice’

Former NBA guard Patrick Beverley said that a Julius Randle trade is just a matter of time.

“It’s tough when [the New York Knicks] sign all of those guys at that position, [Randle’s] size, his type of players,” Beverley said on the September 11 episode of his podcast. “I mean, the writing’s on the wall.”

Randle has been eligible to sign a four-year, $181.5 million extension since August 3, but “the extension talks aren’t at the forefront for either the Knicks or Randle,” SNY’s Ian Begley reported on July 7.

The news came as a shock after the Knicks re-signed OG Anunoby to the richest deal in franchise history (a five-year, $212.5 million extension) and gave Jalen Brunson his max extension (four years, $156.5 million).

The Knicks have also added Mikal Bridges in a trade that cost them almost all of their future draft picks.

To Beverley, the Knicks’ recent moves — plus the lack of extension for Randle — are tell-tale signs that the three-time All-Star could be the odd man out.

Beverley said he views the Sacramento Kings as the perfect landing spot for Randle if the Knicks make him available.

“That would be nice, him in [Sacramento],” Beverley said. “That would be different.”

Knicks in Tricky Spot When It Comes to Julius Randle’s Extension

ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Bobby Marks said they did not anticipate a Randle extension this offseason because the Knicks are in a tricky spot in trying to navigate the new restrictive collective bargaining agreement.

But Marks said the Knicks can avoid dipping into the second apron with one interesting move, that is if Randle would agree to it.

“It’s either going to be in New York on an extension or maybe a new contract, or maybe it’s what Josh Hart did, where you’re opting into that deal, and you’d have to do this by October 21,” Marks said September 9 on the “The Lowe Post” podcast. “[Randle opts in, and then you extend off that where you get a little more breathing room next year when some of these numbers (OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson’s contracts) start to go and then the Randle number doesn’t kick in until 2026-27. So maybe that makes a little bit more sense as far as how this plays out here.”

In that scenario, Randle could tuck in an additional three years worth a maximum of $140.3 million if he opted into his $30.9 million player option for the 2025-26 season. If Randle agreed, he would be leaving more than $100 million in potential earnings.

Randle will be eligible for a five-year deal worth more than $300 million in free agency next offseason, according to Forbes.

Knicks Predicted to Get Lowballed in Julius Randle Trade Talks

The conundrum for the Knicks is that they are not going to get maximum value for Randle in the trade market, per Fred Katz of The Athletic.

“Here’s what makes discussions about hypothetical Randle trades so difficult: I don’t believe there is a team in the NBA that would value the three-time All-Star more than the Knicks do.

“I texted this question to someone who works in a rival team’s front office and received an answer I expected: ‘Neutral, at best,’ the person said,” Katz wrote in his mailbag on August 21.

There is optimism that Randle will be fine, as illustrated by the Knicks’ 12-2 stretch in January with him, Anunoby and Brunson all healthy. But adding Bridges into the mix would mean another adjustment.

Alder Almo is a basketball journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 15 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo