How the Lakers can set the right price for Julius Randle

Here’s what that all means about a pay day for Julius Randle

Now that you know the three things the team has to consider in making Randle an offer over the summer, here’s what that looks like on paper and through paper. Randle’s isn’t likely going to get some long-term, expensive deal from possible front-runners for his services such as Utah or Dallas, but offering more than they should is definitely within the range of possibilities.

If the Lakers want to be realistic about star power, keep the young core they’ve still got together for sake of chemistry, and help Lonzo Ball be the best sophomore player he can absolutely be, then it’s a no-brainer to offer Randle the same kind of pay as another team.

The highest I see these stakes going is a contract to the tune of two years and worth $17 million. His expiring terms include a four year deal worth in the neighborhood of $13 million, making his annual payout just north of $4.1 million, per Spotrac.

Give him a two year deal worth $17 million, and it’s what’s best for everybody involved. Neither Los Angeles nor Randle have to commit to anything beyond two seasons from this summer, while Randle also gets paid well for his services and what he brings to the team.

The Lakers at this point are forced to be honest about what they really think he’s worth, as how they handle offers from other teams will be more than telling. This offer gives Randle a little more than double what he’s currently earning, which is a nice gesture above all else, but doesn’t tie the Lakers down to a bad contract like in the previous cases with Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov.

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This front officecan do better than the one before it, they just have to start acting like they know what they’re doing. Because if not, we’ll be left without Randle and without any superstars to show for it and the chance for next season to be a declining year goes way up.