Julius Randle and the Minnesota Timberwolves are finalizing a new deal that could keep him with the club through the 2027-28 season, a person with knowledge of the agreement said Sunday.
The final year of the deal will be at Randle's option and, if it is exercised, could push the total value of the contract to $100 million, the person said.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither side announced the agreement. ESPN and The Athletic first reported the agreement.
Randle had a $30.9 million player option for this coming season and could have been an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
He averaged 18.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game this past season, his first with the Timberwolves, and helped the team make the Western Conference finals. Randle was one of the primary pieces in the trade last fall that sent Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota to New York. Randle had spent five seasons with the Knicks before that trade.
Randle's stat line declined significantly from the 22.6 points, 9.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists he averaged over his time in the Big Apple.
A three-time All-Star, Randle has averaged 19 points and 9.1 rebounds per game in 11 seasons with the Timberwolves, Knicks, New Orleans and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The six-foot-nine big will slot into a strong Timberwolves frontcourt that also includes four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert and also recently re-signed former Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid.
Minnesota has now locked up two of its three major free agents, with only Canadian Nickeil Alexander-Walker remaining in question.
The Timberwolves were knocked out of the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, losing in five games.
--With files from Sportsnet Staff
