NBA Trade Deadline 2018: 5 teams that could really use Julius Randle

Despite a difficult draft pick situation, the Brooklyn Nets have done a nice job of scratching and scraping their way to a collection of young talent. D’Angelo Russell, when healthy, looked like the team’s point guard of the future. Caris LeVert and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson both look like keepers on the wing. Jarret Allen has shown promise and Spencer Dinwiddie turned out to be a gem. However, most of the talent is in the backcourt, with the frontcourt rotation still loaded with flawed veterans.

Randle could be a huge addition, adding scoring and dynamism inside the arc to help supplement the strong wing play. He also seems like he could grow into a nice complement to Allen looks like a strong future rim protector. Randle and Russell have already played together but the chemistry problems in Los Angeles didn’t seem to focus on them.

The Nets have a logjam at point guard, with Jeremy Lin’s return looking next season, behind Russell and Dinwiddie. Sending Dinwiddie and Nik Stauskas (to match salaries and be cut loose by Los Angeles) allows the Nets to sell high and turn Dinwiddie into an asset at a position of need. It would be hard to part with him after all he’s meant to the team but his value is decreased when Russell returns. For the Lakers, Dinwiddie would be an inexpensive back-up to Lonzo Ball.