Julius Randle Trade Rumors: Rival Exec Says Knicks Star's Value Is 'Neutral, at Best'
Aug 22, 2024
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 25: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks in action against the Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden on January 25, 2024 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Nuggets 122-84. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Despite earning All-Star selections in three of the past four seasons, New York Knicks forward Julius Randle's trade value isn't that high.
One anonymous member of a rival front office told Fred Katz of The Athletic that Randle's value to opposing teams is "neutral, at best."
The 29-year-old still has two seasons remaining on a four-year, $117 million contract that he signed with New York in 2021. However, he has a player option worth $30.9 million for the 2025-26 season and could choose to decline it if he's continuing to perform at an All-Star level.
The "fear" of giving Randle a long-term contract after his current deal expires makes it "difficult" for the Knicks to find suitors willing to give up significant assets in order to make a trade worthwhile, per Katz.
Randle could receive another contract from New York, although SNY's Ian Begley reported on July 17 that extension talks aren't "at the forefront" for either side. The former first-round pick is eligible for a four-year deal worth up to $181.5 million.
This doesn't mean that a trade is coming, as Katz noted on Thursday that there is "no indication" that the Knicks are actively attempting to move Randle.
New York is trying to compete with the Boston Celtics at the top of the Eastern Conference standings after acquiring Mikal Bridges and re-signing OG Anunoby during the offseason.
After averaging 23.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game over the past four seasons, Randle could set himself up for another long-term extension and boost his trade value by continuing his strong regular-season play into the postseason during his 2024-25 campaign.
The 2024-25 NBA season could be special for the New York Knicks. They were already trending up after tallying 97 victories and a pair of playoff series wins…
Photo: Knicks' Jalen Brunson Announces Birth of Daughter Jordyn James on IG
Aug 19, 2024
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 16: Jalen Brunson appears onstage at the Fanatics Fest NYC 2024 at Jacob Javits Center on August 16, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Fanatics)
After the best season of his career, things got even better for Jalen Brunson this offseason.
The New York Knicks star announced the birth of his daughter Jordyn James, on Instagram Monday afternoon. He and his wife, Ali, welcomed their new child on July 31.
Congratulations to Jalen Brunson and his wife Ali on the birth of Jordyn James Brunson! 🧡💙
The birth of his daughter comes after a season in which Brunson put up 28.7 points, 6.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game. He tallied career highs in both points and assists during the 2023-24 season.
Behind Brunson's strong play, he helped lead the Knicks to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they took the Indiana Pacers to seven games but ultimately came up just short in Game 7 after Brunson suffered a fractured left hand.
Even though they fell short of their goal, it became evident last year that New York is a team on the rise, and Brunson is leading the charge.
After the big year, the Knicks rewarded Brunson with a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension. While that's the biggest deal of his career and certainly a lucrative one, he took $113 million less guaranteed than he was eligible in hopes of setting New York up to make some big moves in free agency.
With the motivation of his first child, Brunson will now look to lead the Knicks to another big year.
Knicks' Jalen Brunson Doesn't Rule Out Tyrese Haliburton WWE Match: 'Never Say Never'
Aug 17, 2024
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 10: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks handles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Round 2 Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton could be taking their rivalry on the court into the wrestling ring.
The New York Knicks star hinted at the possibility of him and the Indiana Pacers point guard squaring off in a WWE match.
"I'm never going to say never," Brunson said. "But maybe we can speak it into existence."
There was no wrestling match then, but Brunson isn't ruling out the idea of squaring off in the future.
In the meantime, the two will continue exciting fans on the basketball court after having career years last season. Brunson put up 28.7 points and 6.7 assists per game while Haliburton dropped 20.1 points and led the league in assists with 10.9 per game.
New York and Indiana gave fans a thrilling seven-game battle in the playoffs with Haliburton's Pacers ultimately coming out on top to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode below.
Jalen Brunson on Knicks Contract: 'Simple... Actions Speak Louder Than Just Talking'
Aug 16, 2024
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 14: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on May 14, 2024 in New York City. The Knicks won 121-91. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
New York Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson explained Thursday why he signed a contract extension with the Knicks this offseason and left future money on the table.
During an appearance on his Roommates Show podcast (h/t KnicksMuse) with Knicks teammate Josh Hart, Brunson discussed the four-year, $156.5 million extension he signed in July, saying: "It's kinda simple. I want to be here. I want to show that actions speak louder than just talking about stuff. I want this team to be together for a long time. I want to win here. That's it."
Jalen Brunson on his extension:
“It’s kinda simple. I want to be here. I want to show that actions speak louder than just talking about stuff. I want this team to be together for a long time. I want to win here. That’s it.”
Brunson's decision to sign an extension when he did was somewhat surprising since he would have been eligible for the max extension of five years and $269 million at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Instead, Brunson passed up an additional $113 million so he could pledge his long-term commitment to the organization and create space to make other moves.
The Knicks made the most of Brunson's generosity by both re-signing OG Anunoby and acquiring wing Mikal Bridges in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets.
Despite dealing with several injuries to key players, the Knicks had the second-best record in the Eastern Conference last season at 50-32, and they made it to Game 7 of the second round of the playoffs.
With Bridges joining a core of Brunson, Anunoby, Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and Hart, the Knicks are widely regarded as the second-most talented team in the East behind only the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics.
Brunson, who blossomed into a superstar after signing a four-year deal in free agency with the Knicks in 2022, has played a huge role in the Knicks renaissance.
After the Knicks missed the postseason in 2021-22, Brunson has led them to the second round of the playoffs in back-to-back years.
He is also coming off a career year that saw him finish fifth in the NBA MVP voting by virtue of averaging 28.7 points, 6.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 2.7 three-pointers made per game.
Brunson could have commanded much more on a new contract had he waited, but he is clearly happy in New York, and he wanted to do anything he could to help the Knicks position themselves to win their first championship since 1973.
Video: Knicks' Josh Hart Tells Jalen Brunson He Wanted Noah Lyles to Lose at Olympics
Aug 15, 2024
BROOKLYN, NY - JANUARY 23: Jalen Brunson #11 and Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks look on during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on January 23, 2024 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
New York Knicks star Josh Hart admitted on the Roommates Show with teammate Jalen Brunsonthat he wanted American sprinter Noah Lyles to lose in the Paris Summer Olympics.
Josh on Noah Lyles:
“I really wanted him to lose… you know what, respect. I can’t even hate no more.”
Lyles caught the ire of NBA players (and NBA Twitter) last year with his now infamous comments regarding the Association calling the NBA Finals winner the "world champion."
"You know what hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have 'world champion' on their head. World champion of what? The United States? Don't get me wrong. I love the U.S. — at times — but that ain't the world. That is not the world. We are the world. We have almost every country out here fighting, thriving, putting on their flag to show that they are represented. There ain't no flags in the NBA. We gotta do more. We gotta be presented to the world."
But many turned out to be winners this summer. Twelve NBA players representing the United States took home the gold in men's hoops. And Lyles won gold in the 100m, which gained Hart's respect.
With that, the Olympics are now over, and the 2024-25 NBA season is now in sight, so perhaps this long-discussed feud has reached its course.
Knicks 2024-25 Schedule: Top Games, Championship Odds and Record Predictions
Aug 15, 2024
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Donte DiVincenzo #0, Jalen Brunson #11, and Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks react against the Indiana Pacers during Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 06, 2024 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
For the last two years, reaching the second round of the NBA playoffs was deemed a success for the New York Knicks. Now, the bar will be much higher after they executed one of the biggest trades of the offseason.
Mikal Bridges is not the piece fans envisioned when they mapped out the inevitable blockbuster the Knicks would pull off. They were picturing perhaps a former MVP, an All-NBA honoree, or at the very least somebody with multiple All-Star nods to his name.
Instead, New York used the bulk of its assets to land Bridges, an elite three-and-D presence, albeit one who hasn't yet made an All-Star team and certainly isn't considered a cornerstone talent.
The trade was also an endorsement behind the idea of Jalen Brunson as the No. 1 player on a championship contender, something to which NBA insider Marc Stein reported there's still some doubt despite the guard performing at an MVP-type level in 2023-24.
Brunson has already re-signed on a below-market extension and Stein reported Bridges could do the same when the time comes. That will go a long way toward helping New York navigate around the more restrictive salary cap.
The 2024-25 season isn't a championship-or-bust situation for the Knicks, who figure to have this core together for multiple years. However, anything short of an Eastern Conference Finals trip will likely be deemed a disappointment.
2024-25 Knicks Schedule Details
Season Opener: at Boston Celtics on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m. ET
Championship Odds: +900 (bet $100 to win $900), per FanDuel
Full Schedule: The full schedule is available on the team's official site.
Top Matchups
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics weren't runaway championship favorites when the 2024 NBA playoffs opened but were the strongest team on paper. Boston had the best net rating (plus-11.7) in the regular season, per NBA.com, and a roster with a wealth of postseason experience.
That's why it's tough to discount the Celtics' run to a title despite the fact their four playoff opponents were either playing shorthanded or relying on stars dealing with injuries.
Little was needed in the summer because the franchise returns pretty much the entire team.
Kristaps Porziņģis is the one variable since the veteran forward underwent surgery that will likely cause him to miss opening night and then some. Once he returns to the court, Porziņģis will need time to ramp up and be in true regular-season form.
In general, the reigning champions get the benefit of the doubt when they don't suffer any major personnel losses. Until somebody else proves otherwise, the Eastern Conference goes through Boston.
Philadelphia 76ers
Few teams know better than the Knicks how banking on big free agents to sign with you in the summer can backfire spectacularly. In the case of the Philadelphia 76ers, their long-term planning paid off when they successfully lured Paul George from the Los Angeles Clippers.
The beauty of being able to sign George outright is that Philly preserved its depth for the most part. In addition to getting the nine-time All-Star, the Sixers signed Andre Drummond, Caleb Martin and Eric Gordon and retained Kelly Oubre Jr. to fortify their supporting cast.
Injuries will obviously be a massive question mark.
Last year was the first time George made 70-plus appearances in his five-year run with the Clippers. Joel Embiid, meanwhile, only made 39 appearances and seemingly hasn't been totally healthy for any of his team's playoff runs.
Still, the trio of Boston, New York and Philadelphia are shaping up to be the three strongest teams in the East.
Season Forecast
It will be interesting to see if head coach Tom Thibodeau deviates from the norm at all with how he leans on his starters in the regular season.
Drawing a straight line between player usage and the sheer volume of injuries that piled up for the Knicks toward the end of 2023-24 would be unfair. Still, Thibodeau teams peaking in the regular season and coming up short in the postseason has been a running theme throughout his coaching career.
It might be time for the 66-year-old to adapt because winning 50-plus games and losing in the first or second round won't cut it anymore for the Knicks. Even if it means sacrificing a few victories and seeding, managing his players' workloads more closely could pay big dividends when it counts.
The Knicks have a high baseline as long as their key stars avoid any major injuries.
This is a roster that's stronger overall despite losing Isaiah Hartenstein and Bojan Bogdanović thanks to Bridges' arrival. Having OG Anunoby for a full season will make a difference as well.
The New York Knicks should be unanimous selections as one of the biggest winners of the 2024 NBA offseason. That ups the difficulty of making bold predictions…
Knicks, Jacob Toppin Agree to 2-Way Contract Ahead of 2024-25 NBA Season
Aug 14, 2024
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Jacob Toppin #00 of the New York Knicks walks on the court before the game on July 16, 2024 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)
The New York Knicks announced on Wednesday that they re-signed forward Jacob Toppin to a two-way contract for the 2024-25 season.
Toppin, the younger brother of former Knicks first-round pick and current Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin, appeared in nine games for the Knicks and 25 games for the team's G League affiliate in Westchester last season.
A 6'8", 200-pound forward out of Kentucky, Toppin went undrafted in 2023 and signed with the Knicks on an Exhibit 10 deal that was converted to a two-way contract in October. He showed flashes of potential in the G League, averaging 19.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists with the Westchester squad.
Toppin led the Westchester Knicks to the 2023 G League Showcase Cup Tournament Championship, scoring 23 points in a win against the Indiana Mad Ants. He also participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest and placed third.
The Knicks are coming off a banner offseason in which they built a roster that can contend for an NBA championship for years to come. New York acquired star Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets and re-signed swingman OG Anunoby to a max deal, giving the team one of the best defensive wing duos in the league.
New York also locked up star point guard Jalen Brunson with a contract extension, solidifying him as the face of the franchise after he led the team to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the second straight year. In the 2024 draft, the team acquired highly-touted point guard Tyler Kolek in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Toppin will be hoping to earn more time with the Knicks as they try to compete for an NBA title in 2024-25.
