NBA Championship Odds: Julius Randle Extension Solidifies Knicks in Eastern Conference
By Peter Dewey
The New York Knicks and president Leon Rose have had quite the offseason.
Not only did Rose bring back key veterans Alec Burks, Derrick Rose and Nerlens Noel from last season, but he has added Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker to the mix as well.
Now, the Knicks have come to an agreement with star Julius Randle, who earned second team All-NBA honors last season, on a four-year extension worth $117 million. It’s a huge value move for the Knicks, especially if Randle continues to build on his 2020-21 season where he averaged 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game while shooting 45.6 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from beyond the arc.
“Randle could've waited for his contract to expire next season and signed a new $200 million deal, but extending now off his current $19.8 million salary for 2021-22 gives the Knicks financial flexibility to shape the roster and allows him to commit through his prime to a franchise and city he has come to adore -- and one that has come to adore him,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowksi wrote.
It’s a massive win for the Knicks, and Randle, 26, has a much more team-friendly deal than most of the players that signed major contracts this offseason. To top it off, Randle is younger than most of them as well.
DeMar DeRozan (age 32): $28.3 million
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) August 5, 2021
Jimmy Butler (age 31): $46.0 million
Randle is younger than Duncan Robinson and Norm Powell, who both inked $90 million deals.
Randle is the same age as Devonte' Graham and Kendrick Nunn.
Randle is three years younger than Tim Hardaway Jr.
The Knicks have financial flexibility as well, as the final year in the contracts for Burks, Noel, Rose and Fournier reportedly will be a team option. That means the Knicks will have expiring deals, which are fairly easy to move in the NBA, on the books next offseason.
Kemba Walker will sign a 2 year contract with the Knicks in the $8-9 million range, per league sources.
— Ryan McDonough (@McDNBA) August 4, 2021
New York also has Team Options for the final seasons on the Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel and Derrick Rose contracts (in addition to Evan Fournier’s, as was previously reported)
Rose, Burks and Noel will all be expiring deals next offseason because of the team options.
— Peter Dewey (@peterdewey2) August 5, 2021
IF they don't pan out like they did last year:
The Knicks will be able to move them in a S&T or salary dump to a non-contender because they won't be more than a one-year commitment. https://t.co/nwoLHYGl0T
WynnBET currently has the Knicks at +4000 to win the NBA title next season, and while they may not have the firepower that the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks or Philadelphia 76ers have in the East, they have one of the deeper rosters in the league.
Randle, who is +7500 to win MVP next season after being named the league’s Most Improved Player for the 2020-21 season, has an opportunity to lead the Knicks back to the playoffs next season after they earned the No. 4 seed in the East last year.
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