Julius Randle
The NBA trade rumors that involve the LA Lakers and their young core have died down, but some analysts actually think it's a good idea.
The new direction that the Lakers may want to thread, as symbolized by the hiring of Magic Johnson as a consultant could change the assumption that the young core players are untouchable.
According to ESPN Insider Jeremias Engelmann, the trade that he wants the Lakers to make was not about the veterans Lou Williams and Nick Young. Not even the newly signed free agents Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng.
"I'm not a believer in Julius Randle, who finished last season with the second-worst plus-minus in the league and is 20th-worst this season. Given his defensive deficiencies -- he averages a lowly 0.6 blocks per 36 minutes -- I have a hard time believing he'll ever transform into an above-average NBA player."
That's a scathing evaluation that debunks the widely accepted assumption that Randle could be an elite big and should definitely be a keeper for the Lakers. Which is why he believes that the Lakers should try and cash in while that impression remains.
"But Randle can score and rebound, he's just 22 and he is a recent No. 7 pick in the draft. That kind of player tends to generate a good amount of interest on the trade market."
Randle has often been rumored as part of a package to grab someone like DeMarcus Cousins or other frontline starters like Paul Millsap or Serge Ibaka. There were also rumblings about Randle being the bait for one of the Philadelphia 76ers centers either Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel.
Randle still remains as one of the top 25 young players in the league, and considering the resurgence of players, that's distinguished company. In this list by Deseret News, he was a low 24th place, just ahead of Clint Capela of the Houston Rockets and behind Enes Kanter of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"Although his rebounding numbers are down - from 10.2 to 8.0 - Randle has become a more complete player in his third year in Los Angeles. He is averaging a career-high 13 points a game on 48.9 percent shooting while handing out 3.6 assists in 28.4 minutes," Deseret News listed.
Will the new crop of incoming rookies eventually push Randle off the list or will he climb higher? What does Magic Johnson, Jeannie Buss and the rest of the Lakers' decision makers think of him?
