Breaking news: Knicks Notes: Randle, Sims, Bryant, Okeke.

Julius Randle, the all-star forward for the Knicks, can sign a contract extension on Saturday that could total up to $181.5 million over four years (if he exercises his $30.9 million player option for 2025–2026). Fred Katz of The Athletic thinks that Randle will probably have to accept a lower salary if he wants long-term stability.According to Katz, New York wants to make the most of the financial freedom that came about as a result of Jalen Brunson’s recent agreement. Therefore, it is probably not possible to provide Randle a beginning salary of $40.5 million on a new agreement in 25 or 26. If Randle exercises his ’25/26 option and then extends that amount for ’26/27, the Knicks will have a very strong cap going forward.According to Katz, not many clubs anticipate having cap space in 2025, when Randle might become a free agent, so they may be motivated to agree to that deal structure. Signing a player who would turn 31 before the 25–26 season started would be an odd fit, considering almost all of those clubs are rebuilding.Even if an agreement isn’t reached and Randle decides to test free agency next year, Katz says the Knicks have no interest in trading the former Kentucky standout, especially if it would make them worse, since they’re trying to win a championship as soon as possible. Perhaps that could change if Randle becomes unhappy with extension talks, but there’s nothing to suggest that will happen and the Knicks value what he brings to the table and would prefer to keep him, per Katz.