Lakers: How to keep Julius Randle and bring in two superstars
By Jason Reed
The finished product:
Man, this team would be scary good. Granted, a lot of things need to happen for this fantasy scenario to take place. However, this really could be the best route for Los Angeles to take this off-season. Sacrifice the draft picks because this is a title-winning team in the making.
The starting five:
SG — Paul George
PF — LeBron James
C — Julius Randle
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The team is a bit small down low, but Lonzo Ball and Paul George would be one of the tallest backcourts in the NBA. Not only that, the duo of George and Ball would perhaps be the best defensive backcourt in the NBA. Ball is already in the works to be an elite defender, George is already one.
Brandon Ingram will progress into a 20 points per game guy in only a few seasons. Julius Randle would be good for at least 15 points and 10 rebounds a night on this team and would drop 20 every now and then.
Ball and LeBron would be the facilitators, of course with LeBron playing a big role in scoring as well. George would be swiss army knife of this team and could very well lead in scoring.
And if all goes to plan, the bench would be great as well. Kyle Kuzma would provide depth at both small and power forward and serve as the sixth man. Nerlens Noel and Thomas Bryant would battle for minutes as the backup center. Behind Lonzo and George in the backcourt would be another first round pick and potentially a second, depending on how LA drafts.
The bench is the deepest but standouts Kuzma and Noel would make up for that. Plus, with these guys, the bench minutes would be limited anyway. If Laker fans want a ring as early as next season, this is the route to go. This is the route to hang banner #17 in the Staples Center.
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Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle could be on the fast track to being all-stars. Although it would not happen for them all next year, in two years time, the Lakers could have the first starting five complete of all-stars. THAT is how you beat the Golden State Warriors.