3 biggest free-agent mistakes in Los Angeles Lakers history

1. Renouncing rights to Julius Randle

The biggest free-agent mistake for the Lakers was not one they signed, but one they decided not to sign.

In 2018, the Lakers announced they would be renouncing the rights to then-restricted free agent, Julius Randle. While this move cleared up additional cap space for the Lakers, Randle became an unrestricted free agent.

Making Randle an unrestricted free agent gave him the freedom to sign with whichever team he pleases while also taking away the Lakers’ rights to match any offer.

Julius Randle was drafted by the Lakers in 2014 with the seventh overall pick, so it was a jarring move to see the franchise so willing to part ways with him, especially without getting anything in return.

Randle averaged 13.5 points per game to go along with 8.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists during his four seasons with the Lakers. While those aren’t mind-boggling numbers, he was just 23 years old and coming off the best season of his career at the time.

The Lakers did not see the potential that Julius Randle saw in himself. He wanted an opportunity to earn a larger role, so he decided to sign with the New Orleans Pelicans. In his one season with the Pelicans, he averaged 21.4 points per game, to go with 8.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

The Lakers were not the only ones to give up prematurely on Julius Randle.

After posting the numbers he did with the Pelicans, they too decided to renounce their rights to his contract, making him a free agent yet again.

This didn’t last for long. Two days later, the Knicks signed Julius Randle to a three-year deal. Since then, he has transformed into one of the NBA’s best big men.

In four seasons with the Knicks, he is averaging 22.3 points per game to go along with 10 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. In his four seasons with the Knicks, he has two All-Star appearances and an All-NBA Second Team appearance.

Randle was also voted as the NBA’s Most Improved Player for his efforts in the 2020-21 season. He has also led the Knicks to two playoff appearances in the past four seasons.

Julius Randle may not have been able to reach his ceiling with the Lakers, but they sure missed out on a special player.

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