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 08: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz in the second half at Staples Center on April 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Jazz defeated the Lakers 112-97. 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)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 08: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz in the second half at Staples Center on April 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Jazz defeated the Lakers 112-97. 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) /

1. Utah Jazz

If Randle wants a taste of playoff basketball, he won’t find many better options than Utah. The Jazz were the sweetheart team of the league in the playoffs and are blessed with Donovan Mitchell aka the greatest rookie since Michael Jordan.

The Jazz were a rumored suitor for Randle at the trade deadline because they had the expiring contracts of Derrick Favors and Joe Johnson to entice the Lakers. A deal didn’t come to fruition, but the rumor signifies interest for last year’s fifth seed.

Randle would be an upgrade over Favors and give the Jazz a solid Big 3 in himself, Mitchell, and Rudy Gobert.

However, there are fit issues. Randle’s defense is not great and Utah’s whole identity is on the defensive end. It’s possible that the Jazz scheme will mask some of his defensive woes, but in a league where teams live and die with mismatches, Randle’s defense could be an issue.

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He’s also never played with a center who commands the paint like Gobert. Randle isn’t a stretch-four, and while he is a good playmaker out of the post, spacing certainly becomes an issue for the Utah offense.

These same concerns could dissuade others teams from taking a chance on Randle. But while Phoenix and Sacramento can afford to take a chance on Randle’s talent, Utah has to make sure things are going to work. That’s why they are a playoff team year-after-year and the Suns and the Kings are, well, the Suns and Kings.

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