6’9 250 pounds of brute force with ball-handling ability and a motor on both I see only a handful which include Draymmond Green and Russell Westbrook. Julius Randle came into the NBA as a prospect who lacked a perimeter jumper but was lethal due to his ability to handle the ball as a big man and serve as a play-maker, not to
mention the man is athletic and can get up for some rim rattling dunks.
Randle will be a free agent, he is restricted so the Lakers can match any offer but with the emergence of Kyle Kuzma who was drafted by the Lakers over the summer Randle might be expendable. Kyle Kuzma should have been a top pick in the NBA draft but their were red flags about his motor and interest during games and waning. Kyle Kuzma almost ran away with Summer League MVP honors and has broke out big over the past 5 games averaging 25.6 points per game with a career high 38 points against the league leading Houston Rockets.
Enough about Kuzma, Randle has been under the radar this season mostly playing in a 6th man role for the Lakers where he has been flourishing as a scorer,play-maker, and defender for the Lakers. Luke Walton is the coach and brings a lot of what he learned from Steve Kerr to the Lakers,he prioritizes playing both ends and pushing the pace. Randle excels at pushing the pace and is a nightmare at the 4 for opposing defenders since he’s so tough to keep up once he gets a rebound and gets a straight line a lot like Lebron James.
Randle has been rumored in a supposed swap for Noel who has fallen out of favor in Dallas with Ric Carlisle and can’t even get off the bench. Noel turned down $70 million from the Mavericks and took a qualifying offer, that gamble is hampering as of now but I would like to think Noel would fit the Lakers a lot better then Lopez and Zubac would there. Noel can serve as a shot blocker and would not stunt Kuzma,Ingram, or Ball’s development since he does not need the ball like Randle.
Julius would be unleashed on a team where he knows he would be a primary go to option and we’ve got to believe Ric Carlisle would maximize his potential, Ric is notoriously known for prolonging several players’ careers such as Jason Kidd,Shawn Marion,Peja Stojakovic, and Jason Terry all veterans who finally got their ring 2011. Not saying Ric would morph Randle into a top 5 player but he would fit in seamlessly with the Mavericks, pairing him with Dennis Smith Jr and Harrison Barnes two young players with all-star potential.
In conclusion that was just a rumored trade which might possibly go down but It would definitely work out for both sides, but I got the feeling Randle will become an all-star where ever he decides to sign. Any up and coming team who is rebuilding should not hesitate to sign Randle who is only 23 and not even in his prime yet, the rebounding tenacity,the ability to make plays off the dribble, the ever improving perimeter jumper, the ability to over power defenders in the post with his size and athleticism, the ability to rotate on defense and isolate and get his own shot. Need I say more? I’m offering the max.
D-NBA 