NBA Free Agency 2019: 5 targets for the Phoenix Suns
3. Julius Randle
After missing most of his rookie season, Randle steadily improved his production over the following three seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. But it took a change of scenery to foster a true breakout, as he signed with the New Orleans Pelicans last offseason and promptly averaged a career-high 21.4 points along with 8.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
Randle is technically still under contract with New Orleans, but he can decline a player option a little north of $9 million and hit the open market. It seems like a foregone conclusion he’ll do just that, and John Gambadaro of Arizona Sports 98.7 has pointed to the Suns as a team Randle is interested in with the expectation that interest will be mutual.
Have heard that Free Agent Power Forward Julius Randle has interest in the Phoenix Suns. And I fully expect the Suns to consider him as well.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) May 31, 2019
Randle attempted a career-high 2.7 3-pointers per game this season, making a solid 34.4 percent. But he’s still mostly an around the basket offensive player, and a limited defender in terms of rim protection. That makes him seem like a less than ideal fit next to Deandre Ayton, but Randle could fit very well in a prominent role coming off the bench.
Despite starting only 49 of the 73 games he played for the Pelicans this past season, Randle averaged a career-best 30.6 minutes per game and seemed to function well alongside Anthony Davis. Ayton is obviously not as good or polished as Davis, but it’s a reach to say Randle and Ayton can fit together well.
Randle could easily find more than what the Suns can or will pay him elsewhere. But if he’s already got his eye on them, they have to follow through and at see if a deal can be done.