Julius Randle's Knicks Extension, Five Years On: A Nets Redemption Angle

Five years ago today, on August 25, 2021, Julius Randle signed a four-year, reported $117 million extension to stay in New York — the most the Knicks could legally offer and, by his own math, tens of millions short of what unrestricted free agency in 2022 might have brought. Projections at the time pegged a possible next deal near five years and $200 million. He took the discount anyway, saying he believed it gave the front office room to build a contender.

That was fresh off a genuine breakout: 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and six assists, an All-Star nod, second-team All-NBA and Most Improved Player. It ended with the "We here" moment at MSG after a 40-point, 11-rebound overtime win over Atlanta. The franchise finally felt relevant again. Then 2021-22 happened — Randle regressed, the Knicks missed the playoffs, and the thumbs-down game against Boston (plus a $25,000 fine) became the low point.

From Foundation Piece to Trade Chip

The story didn't end in ruin, though. Thibodeau's culture stuck, Jalen Brunson arrived in 2022 on a four-year, $104 million deal, and Randle adapted alongside him, adding more All-Star and All-NBA seasons. In October 2024, New York flipped Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-Diop and a first-rounder to Minnesota for Karl-Anthony Towns — the move that reshaped the roster that eventually won it all in 2025-26 under Mike Brown.

Randle never lifted the trophy in New York, but he was the load-bearing wall. And he's still producing. He's now with the Nets, coming off a 2025-26 line of 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists across 79 games — good for 37.8 fantasy points per game and our No. 44 overall ranking (16th among forwards). That's not a fading vet. That's a rock-solid every-week starter.

The Fantasy Fallout

For roster purposes, the ripple effects are worth tracking. DiVincenzo, now in Minnesota, sits at No. 126 overall with 26.5 fantasy points per game last season and a cold recent stretch (-6.8 over his last five). On the Knicks side, Brunson (No. 30, 40.5 FPTS/G in 2025-26) remains the engine, while Josh Hart (No. 89, 30.4 FPTS/G) is trending down lately (-9.7 over his last five). Nothing here screams panic, but Hart's dip is worth monitoring.

Bottom line on Randle: he's the cleanest takeaway. His last-five dip of just -2.7 fantasy points versus his season average is noise, not a red flag, and the volume in Brooklyn should stay high. If you drafted him as a top-45 asset, hold him and enjoy the consistent lines. If a manager in your league is spooked by the change of scenery, that's your window to buy — but at cost, he's a keep.