Julius Randle, Los Angeles Lakers

Age: 23

Free-Agent Status: Restricted

2017-18 Per-Game Stats: 16.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks, 55.8 percent shooting

Advanced Stats: 19.9 PER, 45.76 TPA, 0.46 RPM

In a vacuum, Julius Randle’s 2017-18 campaign warrants a big-picture spot on the Los Angeles Lakers. Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic were the only other players to clear 20 points, 10 rebounds and three assists per 36 minutes, and he improved his one-on-one defense enough to hang on certain switches and battle on the block as a de facto 5.cheap nike nfl jerseys wholesale

Most rebuilding squads wouldn’t need to think twice about trying to re-sign a player like Randle. Outside interest is always a wild card, but failing untenable acts of desperation from the field, retaining a 23-year-old working off a career season takes precedence.

The Lakers aren’t most rebuilding teams. They’ve hewn a clear path toward affording two superstar free agents. Renouncing Randle’s $12.4 million cap hold could be a part of it. They can cobble together the $65.65 million it’ll take to max out both Paul George (player option) and LeBron James (player option) while keeping him, but only if they sweeten the pot enough for another team to sponge up the two years and $36.8 million left on Luol Deng’s contract without sending back any money in return.cheap nfl nike jersey

Doling out just one max contract could free up the Lakers to keep Randle without issue. Striking out entirely could make his return no-brainer.

Emphasis on could.

Paying Randle will eat into Los Angeles’ long-term flexibility. That doesn’t matter as much when he’s the complement to a superstar duo; it matters a whole lot if the Lakers miss on their primary targets this summer and kick the can into 2019.cheap nfl jerseys china nike

Waiting out decisions from George and James could inflate Randle’s price tag as well. Why should he hang around while the Lakers are out there pursuing players who will most likely force him out the door? Some teams will be in a holding pattern until the A-listers make their choices. Others will be down to hammer out an agreement before the first marquee domino falls.
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Even the best-case scenarios leave the Lakers with questions. They’ll have to burn through assets to squeeze Randle’s hold under the cap if George and James both come aboard. Funneling eight figures into him annually with a bare-bones supporting cast is its own problem.

However this summer ultimately plays out, Randle’s next contract will be among the NBA’s most divisive topics.china nike nfl jerseys cheap