One of the big questions looming for the Los Angeles Lakers is the contract situation of Julius Randle. What does he think about what his future may hold?
The Los Angeles Lakers will be starting the 2017-18 season in just over a week, as they look to snap their streak of missing the playoffs. This offseason, the Lakers did a good job adding some talent to improve their roster.
Without a doubt, this roster is one of the best ones the Lakers have had in years. However, they are in the extremely difficult Western Conference. Besides LaVar Ball, not many are predicting the Lakers to be a playoff team this season.
However, with a young core, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the team about this season, and for what’s to come.
One of the priorities for the Lakers this offseason was making sure that they had cap space for next season. With a lot of premier free agents likely, the Lakers are hoping to add one or two superstars to their talented young core.
If the Lakers are going to try and create as much cap space as possible, that does mean it would cost them, Julius Randle. Recently, Randle spoke with Bill Oram of the Orange County Register about his contract status. Here’s what he had to say.
"“How they value me is how they value me,” Randle said. “I can’t really sit here and say what they’re trying to do […] I don’t really focus on it,” he said. “I feel like the work I put in speaks for itself.”"
So far in the preseason, Randle has been one of the most impressive players on the Lakers. Along with Kyle Kuzma on the bench, Randle has helped lead a second-unit that has looked better than some of the starting lineups that the Lakers have used.
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Since Randle is playing for a contract from either the Lakers or possibly another team, this is an important season for him. If Randle takes another step forward for the Lakers this season, he could put a lot of pressure on the front office to have to make a tough decision regarding his future with the team.