Julius Randle could be re-joining D’Angelo Russell as a member of the Brooklyn Nets.
The Brooklyn Nets might assemble the Los Angeles Lakers that never were. While the Lakers set their sights on LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and DeMarcus Cousins, restricted free agent Julius Randle could be on his way out of Hollywood.
Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports that Randle could end up with the Nets, but a lot would have to break Brooklyn’s way.
First, the Lakers would have to land at least two of James, Leonard, and Cousins. If they sign James and trade for Leonard, there’s almost no way they’ll be able to afford Randle, especially if they take back salary in a potential trade with the San Antonio Spurs. They could keep Randle and add James and Cousins, but it would hurt their cap space heading into the 2019 offseason.
Second, Brooklyn will need to clear cap space. The Nets can send Randle a signing sheet regardless of what the Lakers are doing, but they’ll have to make it worth his time. Teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers can offer Randle close to a max deal, while Brooklyn would have to offload contracts in order to compare. They can do so by coming to a buyout agreement with Dwight Howard and trading point guard Jeremy Lin. How much Howard takes in a buyout and whether or not Brooklyn takes back any salary in trading Lin and his
$12.5 million contract will determine how much extra they could offer Randle.
Third, Randle would have to accept Brooklyn’s offer over other potential offers. And have the Lakers not match the offer or have them renounce his rights.
As for those looking for a connection between Randle and Brooklyn, it starts and ends with D’Angelo Russell. The two were teammates for two seasons in Los Angeles, worked out last summer following Russell’s trade, and share an agent.
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If the Lakers make the splash they are hoping to make this offseason, Randle will become a highly sought after free agent. He’s only 23 years old and coming off a season where he averaged 16.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.
He’ll have his choice of suitors, but Brooklyn may not sleep until they get him.