NBA Trade Rumors: Julius Randle's Future May Not Be With the Los Angeles Lakers
Randle will become a restricted free agent next summer
The Los Angeles Lakers have not tallied that many wins over the past few seasons, though they have managed to put together an impressive young core.
Brandon Ingram, the player the Lakers took with the second overall pick in the draft last year, has shown flashes of brilliance in his brief time in the league and it seems like he still has plenty of upside.
Earlier this year, the Lakers added two talented rookies in Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma via the draft as well.
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Ingram, Ball and Kuzma are the Lakers' building blocks, and in all likelihood, they will remain on the team for years to come.
Those three are not the only young players on the team, however, and recently, another member of the roster was in the headlines.
That other young player in question is big man Julius Randle.
Randle's name made the headlines after noted NBA insider Ramona Shelburne reported that he and the Lakers were unable to come to terms on an extension.
The Lakers opting not to extend Randle does not necessarily mean his departure is assured. Randle is now set to enter next offseason as a restricted free agent, and because of that, he can sign an offer sheet from another NBA team but the Lakers will still be able to match that and keep him if they are so inclined.
Though Randle may not possess the same superstar upside as some of his aforementioned teammates, he has still shown that he can be a productive player. Also, given his youth, it is not out of the question that he can put up even more impressive stats as he matures.
Still, even taking into account Randle's solid production and untapped potential, the Lakers may not match the amount if he is given a big contract offer next summer.
The Lakers are widely expected to be big players in next year's free agent market, and rumors have hinted that they may target superstars such as Paul George and even LeBron James.
If that truly is the Lakers' plan, they will then need to clear as much cap space as possible, even if that means potentially letting go of a young talent like Randle.
It is possible that the Lakers will look to trade Randle instead and attempt to recoup some semblance of value for him as opposed to just outright losing him in free agency. However, even then, they will have to be mindful of what contract or contracts they take back.
Simply put, the Lakers may find it difficult to keep Randle on the team if they are going to follow through on their rumored plans.
After spending the past few years in the NBA's cellar, the Lakers have big plans in mind for the immediate future, though Randle may not be involved in them.
