A $190.2 million extension over four years. That’s what Julius Randle is currently eligible of, which could inflate to a massive five-year, $313 million contract in free agency, way above his current four-year, $117 million contract. But are the New York Knicks willing to pay him that amount or is a trade inevitable? As the team seems to focus on building their roster around former Maverick Jalen Brunson—bringing in Mikal Bridges and re-signing forward OG Anunoby—Randle is quickly running out of options to the dismay of many.

But before we get to that part, let’s see what the rumors and stats suggest. The possibility of the Knicks being better off without Randle started after the latter dislocated his shoulder in a match against the Miami Heats on January 27. As he missed the remainder of the season, many wrongly believed the team was way better in the three-time NBA All-Star’s absence. But the numbers point out: Knicks had won 63% of the matches with The Black Panther, and 58% without him.

Without Randle, Brunson also seemed to be struggling with fending off defenders. He couldn’t wait for a spot-up on the wing without five defenders hounding him, which brings us to our next point. The Knicks’ offense was 5.8 points per 100 possessions better when Randle was in the court. Instead, Brunson, who had to shoulder the scoring burden, finished 35 percent of New York’s possessions with a shot, turnover or drawn foul during the postseason, really building the case in the veteran power forward’s favor, especially for rapper and broadcaster, Joe Budden.

Though Randle’s budget might not fit into the Knick’s long-term plans, Budden expressed on the Club 520 Podcast, “I hope they pay Julius Randle,” evoking a flurry of reactions from his co-hosts. He believes that besides Anunoby and Bridges, Brunson would need his presence on the court. He’s been a crucial member of the Knicks even when the team was on shaky ground. And now that they’re gradually getting in shape, it would be unfair to scrape him off.

“You need somebody else. You about to tell me that’s Bridges? But you need somebody else that’s gonna put the ball on the floor and get you a bucket. And what value are you going to get back for him (Julius Randle)?” he further explained. The power forward knows how to reshape the game in a manner that brings points to the Knicks’ tally. But despite his honest efforts, the New York Knicks are ready to send away a player with an average of 24 points on 47.2% shooting, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 35.4 minutes per game across 46 appearances.

As Brunson looks to decline his $25 million player option in the 2025-26 season, and Anunoby is also heading toward becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer by declining his $19.9 million player option for next season, Randle is the obvious choice.  You may say, this is also a part of team development, but wouldn’t the New York Knicks be risking team imbalance?

Now that we already know how the team why Julius Randle’s is important, let’s look at what we can expect from the player.

What’s next for Julius Randle?

After spending multiple seasons rebuilding and tinkering with the foundations, the Knicks spent this summer locking it down for the long term and building for a championship run. Tom Thibodeau and Jalen Brunson extended their contracts, re-signed OG Anunoby, and added Mikal Bridges to complete the Villanova core. However, the player who brought New York its first playoff in decades has been sidelined. Yes, it’s Julius Randle. His pros overwhelm the cons and therefore he is an important member of the Knicks.

Within the squad, no one wants to believe that the team would be better off with Julius. Mostly, the naysayers think, given his injury records and postseason melt-downs of the 2021-22 season, are good enough reasons for replacement. Moreover, bringing in new members will add a fresh perspective and maybe enhance the overall performance. But James Dolan seems to be an ally Randle could use.

The Athletic’s Fred Katz reported, “James Dolan has … been a huge Julius Randle fan for years. (He) notoriously loves Julius Randle. He loves that Randall chose New York. He loves his game. He loves the way he plays. It’s not like there’s some sort of issue with ownership or management. He’s very well respected in the organization.” Perhaps the owner could pull some strings to retain his favorite player? Or is the water too deep under the bridge for that to happen?

Since the news of Randle’s replacement emerged, teams like the LA Clippers and Atlanta Hawks are swarming him. Both teams might have a spot for the 3x NBA All-Star. Someone as pivotal as Julius Randle will add value to any team that chooses him. And maybe within the next few days, we might get to know what the Knicks have ultimately decided. However, as most fans and analysts believe, the team needs Randle for further development. Jalen Brunson needs the 29-year-old on the court when he’s playing.

What the future holds remains a mystery. Therefore, it’s hard to predict whether Julius Randle will be retained or let go. More importantly, will James Dolan listen to the fans or look at his choices considering the greater good of the New York Knicks? Who knows?

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.