Lakers Rumors: Which trade destination is the best for Julius Randle
By Jason Reed
As the 2017 NBA Draft creeps closer and closer the Lakers rumors continue to swirl. Today, we look at the best fits for Julius Randle.
Many people are speculating that the Los Angeles Lakers will make a trade before the start of the 2017-18 season. Whether that trade is to land a superstar such as Paul George or Jimmy Butler – or to free up space for a potential draft pick – the Lakers rumors have been trade heavy. Whether or not the Lakers make a deal is up in the air, however, my gut tells me we will see sparks fly.
The other day, we took a look at the five best potential trade destinations for D’Angelo Russell. That article, well, it was not received very well. Laker fans cringed at the idea of the team trading D’Angelo Russell, and rightfully so as he has blossomed into a pretty solid player in only two years.
However, it should be noted that we are looking at the best fits for the player themselves, not for the Lakers organization. Of course, some of these deals will make more sense than others based on the return the Lakers get, but these are destinations that the player, Julius Randle, would thrive in.
Out of anybody in the Lakers young core, I would say Randle has the best chance of being dealt. Randle only has two more seasons until he is a restricted free agent, and with Larry Nance Jr in the mix, the Lakers could avoid having to pay Randle a new, hefty contract.
Especially considering that the Lakers want to pursue a superstar like Paul George or Jimmy Butler, they may want to avoid having to overpay Randle. With that being said, here are the five best trade destinations for Julius Randle.