Former Laker Suddenly in Trade Rumors After Playoff Exit

There are only four teams left in the NBA Playoffs. As teams get eliminated, the offseason rumors begin to emerge. This was no different when the New York Knicks suffered a disappointing Game 7 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.

Following the loss, questions about the Knicks offseason began dominating the airwaves. One of the biggest questions the Knicks have to answer is about their All-Star forward Julius Randle. The former Laker missed the entire postseason run in New York and according to latest reporting, he is a prime trade candidate this summer.

Shams Charania of FanDuel TV reported that teams around the league are "monitoring Julius Randle's situation."

Former Lakers Star May Be Available Via Trade This Offseason

The 29-year-old power forward spent the first four seasons of his career with the Lakers. He wasn't able to fulfill the promise he showed when he was the seventh-overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. However, he has shown an impressive amount of improvement as his career progressed, turning into a three-time All-Star as a member of the Knicks.

Unfortunately, Randle suffered a right shoulder injury mid-season, missing the second half of the year, as well as the playoffs. Despite his absence, the Knicks overachieved, coming up one win short of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The fact that the team played so well without Randle and that he is entering the final season of his contract makes him a trade candidate. Randle will be eligible for a contract extension up to four years, $190.2 million. If the Knicks were to give him that extension, it would hamper their future financial flexibility and make it hard to improve the team around Jalen Brunson.

What Randle's trade value is remains to be seen. Even though he made himself into a solid shooter over the years, he is still a tough fit. He needs the ball in his hands and isn't the most efficient scorer. He can be a liability on the defensive end. But, he is also an All-Star caliber player in his prime.

Randle is obviously a poor fit with the Lakers as Los Angeles needs a guard, but fans will still be fascinated to see where their former lottery pick ends up.

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