Lakers Rumors: Julius Randle signs with New Orleans Pelicans
By Mason Kern
Just hours after the Los Angeles Lakers renounced their rights to Julius Randle, he signed with the New Orleans Pelicans
If recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors are true, Julius Randle’s time with the Los Angeles Lakers has come to an end.
In an attempt to fill the empty slots around yesterday’s acquisition of LeBron James to make a playoff push next season, the Lakers signed Rajon Rondo to a one-year, $9 million deal.
According to Ramona Shelburne, Randle asked the Lakers to renounce his rights upon the Rondo signing once it became clear he would have a diminished role.
According to multiple sources Julius Randle asked to be renounced by the the Lakers once it became clear his role could dramatically change this season and the team wasn’t interested in making a longer term commitment to him.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 2, 2018
Randle was quickly scooped up in the beginning moments as an unrestricted free agent, signing a two-year, $18 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Free agent Julius Randle has agreed to a two-year, $18M deal with New Orleans, league sources tell ESPN. Player option second year.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2018
The decision came in no small part because of Pelicans’ superstar Anthony Davis.
Anthony Davis' tenacious recruiting helped close the deal on Randle, league source tells ESPN. https://t.co/8BzHoVYnT5
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2018
Both Randle and Davis played collegiately at Kentucky, so there is a connection there. Randle could slide right into the starting power forward spot alongside Davis depending on how the rest of the offseason goes for New Orleans.
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Randle was drafted No. 7 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Lakers and has played every season of his professional career in Hollywood. He has come a long way since breaking his leg in his regular season debut. Randle had a breakout campaign last year averaging 16.1 points and 8.0 rebounds on 26.7 minutes per game.
Randle also started 49 games for the Lakers last year as head coach Luke Walton adjusted the rotation quite often.
With rumors still swarming around Pelicans’ free agent DeMarcus Cousins, he has not made a decision as to where he will play next season.
With the Randle signing in NOLA, and with what little cap room remains for the Lakers, it is entirely plausible that Cousins signs a one-year deal with the Lakers to join James.
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Randle can hit free agency again next summer, as the second year of his deal with the Pelicans is a player option.