![]() ![]() We really see our young core developing, so it would definitely be something interesting," Randle said recently of playing with James only after insisting he has his mind focused on finishing the season strong for his team. "It would definitely be interesting because we are building something. Yes, the guy who is supposed to be one of the two critical financial maneuvers needed to secure $70 million in cap space to lure James and George - along with stretching the remaining two years and $36.8 million on Luol Deng's contract - wonders what it would be like to stay and play alongside a superstar like James. Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sportsīefore giving James a taste of what he can do, Randle recently allowed himself to wonder what it might be like for one of the league's quickest and hungriest big men to run the floor and be fed by James for an easy dunk, and what it would feel like to have James cover his back on weakside defense. Julius Randle is averaging 18.4 points and 9.1 rebounds since entering the starting lineup on Dec. "Everybody's had a hard time with him as of late," James said. This is just me guessing, but I would imagine most teams are pretty impressed with what he's doing."Įven James had to take notice of Randle, who is averaging 18.6 points and 9.2 rebounds since entering the starting lineup on Dec. He's a matchup nightmare for teams he's versatile. "I haven't talked to a lot of other coaches about him, but what he's doing right now, he has to be on everyone's radar," Lakers coach Luke Walton said. Randle is trying to alter the narrative about him having to go in order to land James and George by playing the best basketball of his career, and in the process, he's doing his best to make the Lakers think twice about what to do with him. He made his final nine shots and scored 19 points in the last 18 minutes to turn a close game into a Lakers rout. With James in Staples Center for perhaps the last time as a Cleveland Cavalier on Sunday, Randle turned in a superstar performance, posting a career-high 36 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks before a nationally televised audience. Instead, he's doing all he can to show the Lakers, and the rest of the league, what he can do. "Oh, man, it came to a certain point where I was just numb to it," Randle said.īut Randle is not sitting idly by and accepting whatever his fate may be. The Lakers' big man is fully aware that his future is tied solidly to the team's master plan to woo the likes of LeBron James and Paul George this summer and that he will more than likely have to go to help clear up to $70 million in cap space. Julius Randle has heard more times than he cares to count how Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers will put on a full-court press this summer for two superstar free agents at his expense.
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