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Breaking: Julius Randle’s Uncertain Future Sends Knicks Fans Into Frenzy Ahead of Crucial Offseason
January is generally a good month to argue for continuity. You might remember it as the best month for the Knicks in 30 years. It was incredible basketball.
The Knicks’ offense was balanced. After OG Anunoby arrived, they became a defensive juggernaut. They had a Death Lineup to complete the fourth quarters. They won 12 out of 14 games. This was Tom Thibodeau’s closest call to a complete roster this season.
Only Mitchell Robinson was missing. Then Julius Randle tripped over Jaime Jaquez Jr., and here we are, over four months later, debating the authenticity and viability of January. Randle is at the core of the Knicks’ most pressing summer question.
After all, with a high-paid star player like Randle, it’s difficult to come up with a reasonable deal without him. It’s not impossible—for example, salary-matching might be used to combine Bojan Bogdanovic and Mitchell Robinson—just challenging.
Additionally, the Knicks have made it clear that they are interested in a star player. The remaining offseason moves are more straightforward: Thibodeau’s contract should be extended, Anunoby should be re-signed (according to The Post, there are rumors circulating in the league that he will start at $30 million to $40 million), Isaiah Hartenstein should be re-signed, and Jalen Brunson should be extended.
However, there will also be concerns about the trade market with Randle, who is eligible for an extension and will probably demand a large salary after first joining at a discount.
Of course, throw Randle, the kitchen sink, every draft selection, and The Sphere into the negotiation if Giannis Antetokounmpo makes demands of Milwaukee. Take out one of those items if Devin Booker is the one. Let the hard-core haggling begin if it’s Donovan Mitchell, Mikal Bridges, Brandon Ingram, or Karl-Anthony Towns.
No thanks if it’s Darius Garland or Trae Young. The market hasn’t fully emerged as of May, but the Knicks are in a position to value fit over brand awareness. When two starters are making their way back from injuries, enormous risks are not required.
Which takes us back to Randle and something Kevin Garnett said recently. “Are you aware of what occurs when you insert someone other than a superstar? Garnett stated on “The Stephen A. Smith Show” that “you have to weave that superstar into the fabric of what the Knicks are.” The Knicks play for 48 minutes and are a hard team. They’re pricks. Should that not fit… The Knicks have no flaws. Nothing should be done to the Knicks.
You make a valid point. Not every player is cut out for Thibodeau. Every year, the player poll at The Athletic serves as a reminder of that. It’s something more to think about. Although Randle doesn’t have Garnett’s level of dedication to defense, he does have Thibs-like drive to compete in every game.
In today’s NBA, that quality is becoming more and more scarce. In addition, the city and the three-time All-Star are becoming closer. We witnessed that at the conclusion of the Knicks’ best moment of the series—Game 5 against the Pacers. The MSG supporters began chanting for “Jul-ius Randle,” thrilled with their blowout victory and looking for happy targets.
Pretending to check in, Randle got up from his spot at the end of the bench, his surgically repaired shoulder visible. His son joined in the fans’ chants. It was really awesome in the more complex and expansive context.
Since Randle hadn’t played since he dislocated his shoulder, it was easy to forget about him or even write him off as superfluous because the Knicks were ready for their first conference final since the glory days of MapQuest.
Rather, the supporters recognized Randle’s input. Then, they repeated the process when Randle was introduced on the JumboTron during the Rangers game at MSG on Wednesday night.
By the way, this shouldn’t be notable. A home crowd rooting for its All-Star is as uncommon as unclear fortune cookie counsel. However, we’re going into detail for a reason.
A picture of Randle was being taken down from a wall outside MSG by Knicks supporters almost precisely a year ago, and then they would stomp, dance, and kick it.
After the Heat defeated him in the second round, he was made the victim of criticism, and the intense outcry highlighted the dysfunctional dynamic between the power forward and the MSG faithful.
It chants “MVP” one moment, boos Randle the next, and he gestures back, giving the thumbs down, meaning, “Shut the f–k up.”
