Report: ‘No Indication’ Knicks Are Looking To Trade Julius Randle

According to NBA reporter Fred Katz of The Athletic, there is “no indication” the New York Knicks are looking to trade Julius Randle.

“This is a team with championship ambitions,” Katz wrote. “Because of that, there is no indication the Knicks want to trade their starting power forward.”

The Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2024 playoffs in seven games.

Randle dislocated his right shoulder on January 27 against the Miami Heat and missed the rest of the 2023-24 season.

Randle is eligible to sign an extension with the Knicks on August 3. New York can offer the All-Star a contract as big as $181.5 million over four years. 

The 29-year-old Randle appeared in 46 games in 2023-24. He averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocks while shooting 47.2% from the floor, 31.1% from beyond the arc and 78.1% from the free-throw line. 

Randle signed with the Knicks in the offseason of 2019 after playing for the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2018-19 season. He’s averaging 22.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.3 blocks in a New York uniform.

The Knicks signed Randle to a four-year, $117 million extension in August 2021. Randle, who won the 2020-21 Most Improved Player of the Year Award, will make $27.6 million in 2024-25. 

Randle has career averages of 19.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Los Angeles Lakers, Pelicans and Knicks. He was the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Lakers out of Kentucky. 

The Knicks made a blockbuster trade this offseason, acquiring Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets. New York also re-signed OG Anunoby but did lose Isaiah Hartenstein to the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Jalen Brunson signed a four-year, $156 million extension with the Knicks. The point guard left over $113 million on the table by signing an extension this offseason instead of next offseason. 

The Knicks are expected to compete for the championship next season with Randle, Brunson, Anunoby and Bridges leading the way.