Knicks' Julius Randle set to become extension-eligible, but negotiations won't be easy like Jalen Brunson deal
Randle becomes eligible for a four-year, $181.5M extension on Saturday
www.cbssports.comHere’s the latest on Julius Randle’s contract status:
- As of June 29, 2025, Julius Randle and the Minnesota Timberwolves were reported to be finalizing a three-year contract that could total up to $100 million, with the final year potentially being optioned and boosting the overall value to $100 million if exercised. This would keep him with Minnesota through the 2027-28 season. This news came from AP sources and was reported by ESPN and The Athletic, with ESPN/The Athletic first breaking the agreement publicly.
- The deal followed Randle’s decision to decline a $30.9 million player option for the upcoming season, signaling a move toward a longer-term arrangement with Minnesota rather than returning to free agency in 2026. He had been a key piece in the Timberwolves’ run to the Western Conference Finals after being traded from New York.
- Earlier coverage in 2024 indicated that Randle became extension-eligible with the Knicks, with discussions centered around a potential four-year extension in the neighborhood of $181.5 million under the veteran extension rules, though subsequent negotiations with the Knicks did not culminate in a final deal at that time. This context helps explain the market interest around Randle’s contract negotiations in the following years.
Illustration of the typical contract trajectory:
- Pre-existing extension eligibility with a higher-potential value (e.g., around $180+ million over four years) during his Knicks tenure, before a team trade and a new market setting changed the landscape.
- A re-signing with Minnesota on a multi-year deal (three years, up to $100 million) that could reach $100 million in total value, depending on options and year-to-year structure.
If you’d like, I can summarize the key terms of the 2025 Timberwolves deal (guarantees, options, effective dates) or compare this with his 2024-25 Knicks extension discussions to show how his contract trajectory evolved. I can also add a timeline with the major reported milestones.