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Los Angeles Lakers: Watch for Julius Randle on trade market

By Kenneth Teape

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 7: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers exchanges high fives with fans after winning the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on December 7, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 7: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers exchanges high fives with fans after winning the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on December 7, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers power forward/center Julius Randle was selected by ESPN’s Bobby Marks as the player to watch heading into the NBA trade deadline.

The Los Angeles Lakers are right about where many people thought they would be. With a record of 10-16, they have had some bright spots mixed in with underwhelming ones. Despite being six games under the .500 mark, the Lakers are only 2.5 games out of a playoff spot.

Thus far, the Western Conference has not lived up to the billing. The Western Conference was expected to be the more difficult, loaded conference. While they have dominant teams at the top, the middle and back end of the playoff picture, as presently constituted, are not as strong as the Eastern Conference.

As a result, many fans could want the Lakers to change course to make a playoff push. That is unlikely, as the Lakers remained focused on free agency in 2018. They could have the cap space available to add two max-contract free agents with some maneuverability.

That opportunity is probably too good to pass up for Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka. Instead, they will look to conserve that cap space.

We have heard for months that the Lakers will look to shed more salary to create more cap space. Jordan Clarkson‘s name was dangled in trade rumors all offseason. He was even a part of the trade package to the Indiana Pacers for Paul George.

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Also in that trade package was Julius Randle. Like Clarkson, Randle has thrived this season with a bench role. Randle is having his most efficient season of his career offensively. Defensively, he has also improved, embracing the challenge of playing center.

The dilemma facing the Lakers is what to do with Randle. Randle is an impending restricted free agent. With hopes of landing two max free agents, keeping Randle could prove a difficult task.

The easiest way for the Lakers to shed cap is through trades. The NBA Trade Deadline has been moved up this season. It will be on February 8th, 2018. That is earlier than usual, as the trade deadline usually comes around the All-Star Break.

With that, Randle was chosen by ESPN’s Bobby Marks as the player to watch for the Lakers heading into the NBA Trade Deadline.

Marks put together an evaluation of what to watch for every team in the NBA leading up to the trade deadline. Here is what he had to say about Randle being the Lakers selection.

"Julius Randle: For the Lakers to optimize Randle’s trade value, the former lottery pick would need to be traded by the Feb. 8 deadline. The obstacle that Lakers management will face is finding a team willing to trade away a key asset (like a draft pick) for a player they could sign as a restricted free agent in July.Randle’s bird rights (carrying the ability to exceed the cap) have appeal based on the majority of the teams not having cap space next summer. If the Lakers fail to trade Randle, they run the risk of losing him for nothing in the offseason."

The Randle situation is definitely worth keeping an eye on in the coming weeks. If the Lakers have any hopes of shedding Luol Deng‘s contract, they will have to attach a useful asset to him. Depending on the team, that asset could be Randle.

Randle looks to be coming into his own this season. After struggling out of the gate, Randle has looked focused and played well since accepting his role on the team. He has an intriguing skill set, as he is a great rebounder, improving defender and ferocious attacker offensively.

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There is a lot to like about Randle’s game. Could the Lakers change course and decide to keep him in the fold? Sure they can. The next few weeks will be an evaluation process for the Lakers, as they will decide the fate of some players, Randle being one of them.

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