While Julius Randle technically remains under contract with the Pelicans for the 2019/20 season, he has the ability to opt out and hit the open market this summer, and will likely do so. With Randle expected to become a free agent, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link) hears that the big man has interest in the Suns.
Randle would be a curious fit with the Suns, who have Deandre Ayton in place as their long-term center. A Randle/Ayton pairing may not be ideal, given each player’s desire to score near the basket on offense and limited rim-protecting ability on defense. However, Randle could be a very productive scorer off the bench for Phoenix if he’s interested in that role.
In 73 games (49 starts) for the Pelicans this past season, Randle set a new career high with 21.4 PPG, chipping in 8.7 RPG, and 3.1 APG.
Based on those numbers, Randle figures to be seeking a raise, but Phoenix won’t have a ton of cap flexibility, particularly if the team wants to retain restricted free agent Kelly Oubre. Barring cost-cutting moves, the Suns figure to function as an over-the-cap club, so they’d be limited to offering Randle the mid-level exception, which projects to be worth only slightly more ($9.25MM) than his 2019/20 player option ($9.07MM). The Suns may prefer to use most or all of that exception on a point guard.
Still, this could be a situation worth watching. In addition to reporting Randle’s apparent interest in Phoenix, Gambadoro adds that he fully expects the Suns to consider Randle in free agency.
Lmao what? He left the lakers for the same role as stating he wanted to start, so why would he go to a dumpster fire like suns to come off bench? He is going to dallas mark it down
Agree, Dallas would be a really good fit.
I think Boston would be a pretty good fit too. He’d be an upgrade over Marcus Morris IMO.
Maybe the Celtics could sign Randle and his twin brother Julieff.
Morris seems pretty effective when the team chemistry is right.
Randle is definitely a PF and runs the 4 so idk where they are coming from
Suns should trade the 6 pick to the lakers for Lonzo and sign randle . Zo, booker , randle , Ayton could put them into contention real quick
Lonzo is not worth the 6 pick in this draft. He hasn’t been a bust, but he hasn’t lived up to the billing either.
Ya he’d start next to ayton
That move makes no sense for both parties. Plus why would Randle consider opting out just to make a few more thousand bucks to come off the bench for a losing system.
When media puts out articles like this, it diminishes players value to the public but then watch Solomon Hill get a 5 year 60 mil contract tho.
He might leave if NO want Zion.
KNICKS
Apparently the Suns are interested in anybody that can dribble a basketball. What a dumpster fire franchise they have become in such a short amount of time. Quite the opposite of the early to mid 2000’s Suns.
“And I fully expect the Suns to consider him as well.”
And I fully expect them to be hopeless on defense if they sign him. That is a funny-sad twitter page on the link, with nobody seeing a downside. There was no sourcing claimed from the Suns.
this article is just some of the dumbest …… I’ve heard. He took a 1+1 so he had the option to enter the giant cash pool of the ’19 FA….the lakers didn’t give him a rookie scale extension…so he negotiated himself a contract that gave him control to enter that pool if he increased his value….he obviously increased his value….honestly….
This does not seem logical. Randle is going to get paid this summer and at least double what they said was in the offer sheet of the Suns. Also the Suns have enough cap space to sign Irving, if they wanted to go out of their way to sign a star point guard. Based off the Suns history when players get into trouble they will probably trade Jackson. There is also a good chance they will not resign Holmes too do to the trouble he got into this summer, though he played really well this last year. There are several good point guards that will be entering free agency, that will opt out of their player contracts because they know they are worth a lot more. There are also several players that will opt in to their player options because they know they are overpaid. Like Barns and that point guard for the Suns will opt in for their contracts.
Lakers please step up here. Randle fits the Lakers with his ability to push the ball and finish fast breaks. Combine his skills with DeAngelo Russell hitting 3’s and we have a better balanced roster age wise and talent wise. Abandon the star driven roster and build a team. Unequal pay,unequal influence will not work. Mixing old with young wint work running at half speed. Injuries happen because the team is not balanced