Lakers trade rumors: Who are the best suitors for Julius Randle?
By Jason Reed
3. Utah Jazz
While the Utah Jazz are further along in the contention process than the Lakers, it is time for them to make the most out of their veteran contracts. In particular, the contracts of Derrick Favors and Joe Johnson. Both are expiring after the year, making it difficult for the Jazz to make any long-term improvement off of them.
Luckily for Utah, the Los Angeles Lakers may be willing to absorb these expiring contracts in exchange for some nice trade pieces.
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To neutralize the contracts of Favors and Johnson the Lakers would need to likely send a trade package consisting of Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and a lesser contract, such as Tyler Ennis. In exchange, LA is freeing up near $20 million in cap space while the Jazz gets young pieces to bring in alongside Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.
Mitchell and Gobert alone have enough promise to turn the Jazz into a respectable playoff team. With the right pieces and proper depth, the Jazz can even lure in a star to become a serious title contender. They cannot do that by sitting on Favors and Johnson and letting their contracts expire.
Utah has the money to re-sign Randle in the offseason, giving them a very solid starting power forward who is an upgrade from Favors. Then, the Jazz would get one of the best 1-2 point guard punches in Jordan Clarkson and Ricky Rubio.
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Heck, the Lakers could even try and get Rodney Hood in the deal to replace Kentavious Caldwell-Pope after the season. Hood is a solid shooting guard and would only cost the Lakers a qualifying offer next year. With Hood reportedly on the trade block, this is more than doable. Thus, out of all the Lakers trade rumors, this could be the Lakers best route.