Lakers rumors: A Los Angeles-Julius Randle trade reunion is too far-fetched

Last season, Julius Randle was voted as an All-Star for the first time. That feels like it was so long ago because now there’s a chance that Randle could be traded to another team sometime over the next five days. And no, that team shouldn’t be the Los Angeles Lakers.

Randle spent his first four seasons in the league with the Lakers before he signed with the Pelicans in free agency ahead of the 2018-19 season. Ironically, Anthony Davis was Randle’s biggest New Orleans recruiter.

Is there a chance that Davis has tried to persuade Los Angeles to trade for Randle? Eh probably not.

The difference in Randle’s production between last year and this year is astounding. He’s averaging 18.5 points and 9.9 rebounds in the 50 games that he’s played in for the Knicks. He’s shooting 41.4% from the field and 30.3% from the 3-point line.

There’s no chance the Los Angeles Lakers will trade for Julius Randle.

Randle signed a four-year, $117 million extension with New York in August of 2021 and he deserved every penny. He averaged 24.1 points per game last season and was the leading force behind the Knicks making it to the playoffs. That’s why he was voted as the league’s most improved player.

His future looked bright but since then, it’s been dimmed. And there’s no explanation as to why.

Based on Randle’s play this year, why would the Lakers want to take on him and his contract? A heartwarming reunion with the forward that Los Angeles should’ve never let walk in the first place isn’t a good enough reason.

The Lakers’ season has been an embarrassment but even they shouldn’t be desperate enough to make a trade for Randle. If Los Angeles could’ve made this trade happen a year ago, that would’ve been more reasonable.

The latest reports suggest that the Knicks have continued to show interest in trading for Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said if that were to happen, it’d make the most sense for New York to part ways with Randle. That makes far more sense than if the Lakers were to trade for the forward.

So, yes, he could end up back in California but on the other side of the state.

For now, Los Angeles will get to keep up with the drama from the outside. On Thursday, a day after the Knicks lost to the Grizzlies at Madison Square Garden, Randle unfollowed the team on Instagram. Will there be a breakup in the near future?

The Lakers will have a chance to see Randle in what could be his final days with New York. Los Angeles will host the Knicks on Saturday night and that’s going to be the closet that Randle will get to playing for the Lakers this year.