The Lakers still may bring back Julius Randle, but for now the team and his representatives can’t agree on how serious negotiations have been, relays Tania Ganguli of The Los Angeles Times.
GM Rob Pelinka insists the front office has made frequent calls to Randle’s agents and they have engaged in “a mutual exchange of interest and hoping that we can work something out for both sides.” Randle’s camp tells a much different story.
“We still have no indication of where Julius stands among the Lakers’ priorities, or if he is a priority at all,” said Aaron Mintz, Randle’s agent. “We are looking forward to the marketplace in July, when we will get a clear picture of Julius’ future.”
The Lakers have until June 30 to extend a qualifying offer to Randle, making him restricted when free agency begins July 1 and enabling the team to match any offer sheet. Randle has said he would like to remain in L.A., but the Lakers will be pursuing higher-profile targets with their cap space and a decision on Randle will be tied to their success. They would almost certainly need to renounce their rights to Randle to offer two max contracts.
Randle is coming off the best offensive season of his four-year career, averaging 16.1 points per game and shooting .558 from the floor. The Lakers declined to offer him an extension in October because they didn’t want to tie up any more future salary.
“The work that he put into it is what people don’t see and I think it was an enormous effort on his part,” Pelinka said. “The fact that it worked and translated to being one of his best seasons as a Lakers player really was not only great for him individually but was great for other guys to see, ‘Hey if we put in that work and you change your body it leads to good things for your performance.’ So I think that was an amazing process for us to see.”
AKA we respect your efforts Julius but we are shooting for George and Lebron this summer.
I’ll never understand some Lakers fans thinking like the Kings FO, Kings drafting all those big men and Lakers fans wanting Paul George AND Lebron AND Ingram on the same team all playing the same position.
Why on Earth would Lebron leave the Cavs and weak East, to go to a Lakers team in a strong West to only get beat by the Warriors or Rockets in the first round?
By far the best option for the Lakers would be signing PG and Boogie. Ball-PG-Ingram-Kuzma-Boogie
Agreed. I think even with signing PG and Boogie the Lakers could still afford to bring back Randle. That’s been my ideal situation and Boogie’s injury can make that possible
Boogie? Pass! George (hopefully) and Randle. Julius you still gotta work on your mid range and right hand!!
To prove to everyone he can win in the West. With Ball’s development taking a stride he would be the perfect point guard to defend Curry being he has a size advantage over Curry and similar skills, Lebron knows Ball has serious potential and can be the playmaker he has lacked his whole career.
Ball-George-Lebron-Kuzma-Noel?
That could beat the Warriors.
This is why no one takes u serious
Ask me a if I care what you close minded people think, the Warriors are not unstoppable in my opinion.
Close minded? Don’t use terms you don’t understand.
Lmao yes
Noel is deep bench on a bad team. Never been anything else.
Switch Kuzma and Paul, pretend Ingram will blossom into a good player, and this lineup might win 45 games
That lineup couldn’t beat GS. A Cavs team that had LeBron, Love and Irving could only beat them once and could’ve easily lost all three times. Having Kuzma as a teams 3rd best option would get swept by the Warriors
Lebron and George? Lebron has never had a defensive player like George. You haters will see what Lebron could do with a long athletic forward playing alongside him. Lebron and George can beat the Lakers together and if you don’t think so you just don’t know basketball.
Clark, you can roll that lineup out there small ball style with a big shooting guard. It works.
Really it’s three wings now look at all the good teams: Brown Tatum Morris, Durant Iguodala Thompson, LeBron Kawhi George LOL.
I think it happens.
As a real Lakers fan I can tell you that none of us want to dump an up and coming all-star like Randle for the last few seasons of LeBron’s career. LeBron is great, no doubt, but if you really bleed purple and gold, you want the core to grow and the Lakers to add a star with them
Lebron has another 3-4 years easily of superstar basketball.
Chris what you saw of Randall this year was the very best Randall you will ever see. In my opinion he has peaked.
He’s a 6-8 short-armed power forward and had a great year. But there is not more upside to uncover with Randall.
He won’t be an All-Star that’s for sure. He’s a 15 and 8 guy with pop to a maximum of 18 ft. Just average on defense. No 3-pointer in his game whatsoever.
Who the hell is Randall
WTF, I spelled his name wrong, you left off a question mark.
Wake up.
Boogie joins the Ball circus. Juicy. Boogie will knock the old man’s crooked teeth out! LBJ not joining Fakers…no title happening there in his timeframe. Choker George will take their money. Randle goes to Dallas.
Please DO NOT lose Randle. Too valuable. Last 2 years he’s proven it. Boogie can stay in N.O. Get PG. Trade Ball and Deng to the Raps for Lowry and DeRozan (hear the Raps are planning to blow it up this summer). Bring back Lopez for cheap.
Randle
George
DeRozan
Ingram
Lowry
Small Ball in the west. Lopez and Kuzma off the bench. Sign some vets on the cheap. Playoffs!!
Lowry? Are you kidding me
Let Lebron stay w/ the Cavs. Getting a lil’ too old. 33. EVEN FOR LBJ. Or, he can go to the Clippers. He wants D Jordan; ok. There ya go. And Doc Rivers can coach that mess.
They have to find a taker for Loul Deng’s 18M. Pray that Randle doesn’t sign an offer sheet early, and pray PG and LBJ make up their minds very quickly.
Spurs take dengs 18 mil to offset Kawhi salary. Throw in all the young guys San Antonio wants and you’ve got a deal.
Lakers get LeBron, Kawhi plus another friend. Chris Paul? Paul George?
Now the Lakers have a chance for 2 years. Maybe three because LeBron is quite the stud not like an average 33 year old.
First, and I’m guilty of it as well, but why do any of us read or respond to Dionis?
I like Randle, but I think he’s at 90% of his upside. I don’t think you’re going to see a big evolution in his game. I would not be opposed to resigning him if I’m the Lakers, but it’s got to be at $15M per or less.
As it relates to who the Lakers can get this offseason, I wouldn’t touch Boogie, I don’t see LBJ as realistic right now. I think they have a real shot at PG, and I don’t think Kawhi is an unreasonable target, understanding that the Spurs will not take Deng’s back in the deal.
The Ball, Deng’s for Lowry, Derozan is just ridiculous, Toronto says a big no. Derozan I think is a reasonable play for the Lakers, especially if they strikeout in FA, but if Deng is involved, it will cost the Lakers Ingram. If no Deng, I think Kuz, Hart and a first is reasonable.
The dreamers come out on a Lakers article. Derozan and Lowry for Ball and Deng, luol.
Hey Gary, Randall has Handall for a power guy, lol
Randall’s handalls aren’t bad fer a 6-8 guy.
But lyke I sed I think he’s peeked and his upside is not much higher.
Lakers better hope Randle waits out to see what the big stars do.
I am a bit tired of keep hearing all the big FA names link to the Lakers. Why on earth do/would they need someone like Lebron, PG13 or specially Kawhi, they do not need them at all. They have a very good young core that they have to let grow together, adding what is needed. But they have Ingram, Kuzma & Randle, why would they need another forward? They have the point excellently covered by Lonzo, so what they need is a good SG, not like KCP & most definitely they need a Center, clearly despite the injury I think Boogie can be the best option or try some trade up in the draft to get any of Ayton, Bagley, Bamba or JJJ. & then give them a couple years to grow. Why would they want to win now. Anyway this year they where close to .500, with a new SG & C, they will be playoff team, then 2-3 years contending, great for Lakers if they do not blow it with FA forwards like Kawhi or PG13
That’s a great plan if you’re talking about the Kings or the Blazers. We’re talking about the Lakers here there is no wait 2-3 years to be contenders when LeBron tells his buddies he’s going to La and the word kind of sneaks out.
Because of his age. .. maybe he has two or three years left, you want to bring in a couple other studs with him.
Contenders now and for next three years. Kuzma is not getting you to the championship. Brandon Ingram might develop but I’d rather have Paul George than Ingram.
Randle’s play at the end of the season shouldn’t mask the fact that he’s a limited player, and a bench piece on a good team. Ball was very unimpressive (but PGs should be given a second year). The other young players don’t have All Star potential. Since Shaq, no top FA has elected to go to the Lakers. They should give it a go as George seems to want to play there, but if he passes, they’ll roll snake eyes again. Hopefully, they’ll avoid a plan B that includes Mozgov and Deng type players.