Fansided

NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 potential destinations for Julius Randle

By Jeremy Lambert

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 11: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the bench in the second half at Staples Center on April 11, 2018 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. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Julius Randle
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 11: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the bench in the second half at Staples Center on April 11, 2018 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. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Julius Randle /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 1: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes to the basket against the Sacramento Kings on April 1, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 1: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes to the basket against the Sacramento Kings on April 1, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. Sacramento Kings

See everything I just wrote about the Phoenix Suns.

The Kings have some good young talent, although you wouldn’t know it by watching them this past season. They’re on the hook for the contracts of Iman Shumpert and Zach Randolph for another season, which is not good. Beyond those two their timeline lines up with Randle.

Buddy Hield, Willie Cauley-Stein, De’Aaron Fox have all shown promise in their young careers. Fox is going to be the most dangerous player in the league in two to three years because everyone is afraid of him. They’ll get back Harry Giles as well. If the 76ers have taught us anything, it’s that rookies who miss their entire rookie season will win Rookie of the Year in their sophomore season.

Randle and Giles could end up being the spider-man meme in a couple of seasons. Kings social media would be happy to re-find that image should both forwards reach their potential.

The Kings won’t scratch Randle’s competitive itch, but he’d at least be in a franchise that appreciates him. With the way Vivek Ranadive hands out comparisons, he probably sees Randle as having Anthony Davis potential. Even if Davis is only one-year older than Randle. Vivek doesn’t need to know that. He probably doesn’t care anyway. Randle is the next Davis and no one is going to tell him different.

If the Kings outmaneuver the Lakers this offseason, Magic Johnson has to resign on the spot and put a Vlade Divac statute in front of Staples Center. Those are the rules.

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