NOW ‘HERE’ THIS!

RANDLE SAYS HE WANTS TO STAY ON B’WAY FOR THE LONG RUN

Julius Randle cracked a smile when asked about his long-term future with the franchise.

Does he want to be a Knick for life?

“It’s always a thought,” the 26year-old Randle said. “When I came here almost two years ago, that was the plan. I wanted to be here long term. I want to be a Knick. So my thoughts never changed. I would definitely love to be here long term. When we get to that part, sit down and talk, whatever. But right now I’m more so focused on the team, getting a win [Thursday].”

The Knicks, who entered the All-Star break after Thursday’s 114-104 win over Detroit, have a team option on Randle for the 2021-22 season with just $4 million guaranteed. There was once a thought, during the long pandemic offseason, that if Randle wasn’t traded, a tough decision would exist. Should the Knicks exercise the team option or use it as cap space for 2021 free agency?

Former Knicks president Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry signed Randle. Mills is gone and Perry has a lesser role in decision-making.

Now the only decision for new Knicks brass Leon Rose and William Wesley this summer is whether to try to renegotiate a contract extension for Randle, who will make his first All-Star appearance Sunday.

As much money as Randle’s three-year, $60 million contract seemed when he signed it, it’s not that overwhelming now. Under Randle’s third-year figure of $20 million, the Knicks could only offer him a top deal of four years, $106 million that would extend starting in 2022-23 at $24 million, according to ESPN’s cap guru Bobby Marks. If Randle’s final year were technically a team option, they could have offered him a max extension. However, it’s technically a partially guaranteed final year.

If nothing happens, Randle stands to be a restricted free agent in 2022.

“We’ll see when we get to that time,” Randle said. “But right now, I’m really just focused on what we have to do as a team. That’s so far ahead in the future.”