The Kings will be among the teams in pursuit of Pelicans forward Julius Randle, tweets Jordan Schultz of ESPN. He cites the Nets, Knicks and Bulls as other expected suitors.
Randle, 24, had a career-best season after signing a one-year deal with New Orleans last summer. He averaged 21.4 points and 8.7 rebounds in 73 games while shooting 52% from the field. He also improved as a long-distance shooter, hitting 34% of his shots from 3-point range.
Here are more rumors as we move to within 24 hours of the start of free agency:
- The Timberwolves will have plenty of competition for Taj Gibson, according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News, who lists the Clippers, Nets, Bucks, Bulls, Warriors, Raptors, Trail Blazers, Hornets and Lakers as having interest in the veteran forward (Twitter link). Gibson has averaged 11.5 PPG and 6.9 RPG during his two years in Minnesota.
- There’s mutual interest between the Knicks and shooting specialist Reggie Bullock, according to Ian Begley of SNY.TV. Bullock averaged 11.3 points per game while splitting last season between the Pistons and Lakers.
- The Bulls are looking for a point guard, but want to limit the contract to two years, reports K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. That may take them out of the running for Malcolm Brogdon or Patrick Beverley, Johnson notes, but he cites other options such as Cory Joseph, Tyus Jones and George Hill who might be willing to accept a shorter contract. The Bulls are counting on first-round pick Coby White to take over the position within two years and want the free agent’s contract to expire in the summer of 2021 at the same time as Otto Porter‘s and Cristiano Felicio‘s.
Do the Lakers still have bird rights on Bullock, Moose and KCP?
Or did they have to renounce those rights to open the max slot?
They have them for now, but yeah, they’d have to renounce them to get the full $32MM in space.
Someone is going to snag Randle and be happy/lucky. Wondering what he’s going to get. Better fit for the Pelicans/Nets than the Kings. That would force Bagley (or Randle) to play the 5. Would be nice on the Knicks, but not sure that’s the strategy of they don’t land two top FAs.
Bulls need to grab Terry, give him a 1 year with good money and a team option. Done!
This makes much more sense than trying to grab Dedmon or Horford or Jordan. None of those players can play with the Kings. Randle while not a good defensive player is a guy who can run up and down and make plays. Him along with Fox, Buddy and MB3 would be incredible to watch.
Luke knows this kid can hoop. Fakers let him walk. Stupid.