The Lakers have issued a qualifying offer to Julius Randle, making him a restricted free agent, the team announced today in a press release. The move is a procedural one that had been anticipated.
Randle, 23, enjoyed a breakout season in 2017/18, appearing in all 82 games for the Lakers and starting the final 49. In those 49 starts, the former lottery pick averaged an impressive 18.6 PPG, 9.1 RPG, and 3.1 APG with a .560 FG%.
As detailed earlier this offseason in our Lakers cap digest, Randle will receive a qualifying offer worth $5,564,134, though his cap hold will be $12,447,726, eating into the Lakers’ cap space as long as the big man is unsigned and his QO remains on the table.
If the Lakers decide they need to move that money off their books in order to create the space necessary to land a pair of maximum-salary free agents, they can withdraw their qualifying offer and renounce Randle, but for now, the team will keep its options open. Randle is a good bet to be retained by Los Angeles if the club doesn’t need its cap room for other moves.
The Mavericks are among the teams viewed as potential suitors for Randle in restricted free agency.
He’s gone. My guess is he goes to the Brooklyn Nets, gives the Nets three building blocks in Allen,Randle, and Russell. Next summer they can go after Klay Thompson with their other max slot.
Russell-Klay-Crabbe-Randle-Allen
That lineup has #8 seed written all over it.
Plus Thompson will never sign with the Nets
Be crazy to lose him!
Sign and trade? This blocks LBJ and PG13.
JR is an absolute beast, I would be disappointed if the Lakers don’t keep him, I keep saying Lakers need a SG & C, they have the PG, SF & PF with JR well covered.