Lakers: How to keep Julius Randle and bring in two superstars
By Jason Reed
Dump plenty of assets to somehow trade Luol Deng
The Los Angeles Lakers are entering the NBA off-season with $61 million in practical cap space, according to Spotrac. While Randle could take a discount, the Lakers may need to match a massive offer from another team, such as the Dallas Mavericks. Sure, the Lakers do own Bird Rights on Randle, but they are going to free up some more space to get two more stars.
The elephant in the room is Luol Deng, who is still owed $36 million over the next two seasons.
The Lakers need to find another rebuilding team that is willing to take on Deng’s contract if it means getting young pieces. Luckily for the Lakers, there is a perfect match in waiting.
That match is the Chicago Bulls, who have $41 million in practical cap space for next season. The Lakers can free up space, Luol Deng can return where he was best and the Bulls can stack up on young talent.
Los Angeles is going to have to give up a pretty penny, it is inevitable. However, with superstars incoming, LA can afford to strip the remaining youth and build around the core.
A trade consisting of Deng, Josh Hart, Ivica Zubac, a 2018 second round pick, the team’s 2019 first round and a top-10 protected 2020 pick makes sense for both sides. The Bulls get Hart, an immensely promising guard, a promising center in Zubac and two draft picks. The Lakers can get a heavily protected second-round pick in return.
Is it being optimistic? Sure. But the Bulls are in no spot to win next year, could use the young talent and could utilize those draft picks moving forward. If everything goes as planned for the Lakers, that draft pick will not even be that high, anyway. If this does blow up, and they are back to tanking, they can still get the 2020 draft pick.