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Los Angeles Lakers, Julius Randle do not agree on contract extension

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the preseason game against the Utah Jazz on October 10, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the preseason game against the Utah Jazz on October 10, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers and power forward Julius Randle were unable to agree to a contract extension.

The Los Angeles Lakers put an emphasis on clearing future cap space this offseason. They were able to get out of the contract of Timofey Mozgov, trading him to the Brooklyn Nets, along with D’Angelo Russell, for Brook Lopez and the No. 27 draft pick. The Lakers had a plan in place and looked to execute it.

They didn’t offer a multi-year deal to any free agents, hoping to jump into free agency next offseason with room for two max players. As a result, the Lakers looked at offering only one-year deals.

As a result, the Lakers will have to deal with a restricted free agent next offseason. Trying to preserve their cap space, the Lakers were unable to agree to a contract extension with power forward, Julius Randle.

Ramona Shelburne shared the news on her Twitter account. She also mentions that both sides understand the cap situation, as they held cordial discussions but a deal was not done.

Randle is one of the many young players the Lakers have as part of their core. However, there are other young power forwards on the roster that the team likes in Larry Nance Jr. and rookie Kyle Kuzma.

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Randle put in a lot of work this offseason, but handing out a lucrative long-term deal was not in the Lakers plans. Seeing how Randle fits alongside new point guard Lonzo Ball will go a long way in determining whether or not the Lakers want to make him a long-term piece of the puzzle.

Randle looked good at times this preseason. Luke Walton tinkered with his lineups, seeing which combinations worked. Randle thrived coming off the bench and possesses the versatility to play alongside any of the Lakers other frontcourt players.

There is a lot the Lakers can do with Randle. If he plays well, he is someone they could decide is worthwhile to invest in. If they don’t like how he looks, they could try packaging him with one of the other contracts they want to take off the books; similar to how the Lakers packaged Russell with Mozgov.

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Whatever the Lakers decide to do, a decision won’t come for a few months. The regular season gets underway this week, so the Lakers are unlikely to make any rash decisions. There are four months until the trade deadline, which could be the first time the Lakers show their hand in terms of future plans involving Randle.

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