After all, the New York Knicks might be able to trade three-time All-Star Julius Randle away.
Since joining the Knicks in 2019, Randle has been the team’s mainstay. After leading the Knicks to two postseason trips in 2021 and 2023, he handed the team’s franchise player duties to teammate All-Star Jalen Brunson in the last season.
Putting aside Brunson has become inevitable as a result of the media’s constant focus on his weaknesses and shortcomings when he was wearing a Knicks jersey. With his name circling in trade rumors the whole offseason, the Kentucky product has faced a mixed bag of love and criticism from the NBA community. However, one analyst made it clear how moveable Randle actually is.
Regarding Randle’s contract status and how the Knicks’ front staff will find it simple to trade him this season, ESPN NBA analyst Brian Windhorst recently appeared as a guest on the podcast “The Hoop Collective” (via Bleacher Report’s Jack Murray):
Windhorst stated, “He is extraordinarily tradable because of that $29 million salary.” “The Knicks can still move a couple of their first-round picks.”
“If he is at 100%, his value exceeds that amount,” Windhorst stated. “If he is performing at the highest level possible, there is no reason he shouldn’t give opting out of that some serious thought.”
The 29-year-old also has a $30.9 million player option for the 2025–26 campaign, but given the events of this offseason and the threat posed by new trade acquisition Mikal Bridges to his supporting role in the Knicks’ offense, it’s possible that Randle will be leaving New York sooner rather than later.
If New York blows through the East by the trade deadline on February 6, it’s still possible that the Texas native may see his time on the trade mill blow over. However, a move might be on the horizon if they aren’t ahead of the competition by then and Randle’s performance proves he is culpable.
