Sooooo how long until we trade Randle? it looks like L.A is going all in on trying to bring two stars into town & as of next summer if we renounce everyone(Randle, KCP, Brook etc etc included) we would be at 48-49 million (aka not enough to sign two max contracts)
we would have these players under contract:
Clarkson, Deng, Lonzo, Ingram, Ennis, Nance, Kuzma, Zubac, J. Hart & T. Bryant
now the two main things the Lakers will be pursuing prior to FA is probably getting rid of Clarkson & trying to stretch Deng. If that happens you have an extra 23 million freed up (Clarkson's 12 gone & Dengs contract stretched over five is about 7 mil per, rather then 18 mil per). Leaving us with around 71-72 million, which would put us in position to sign two super maxes (Westbrook & LBJ, starting at 35) or two regular maxes (PG & Boogie, starting at 30). Considering Randle's cap hold is around 12 million i don't think there's anyway we don't renounce him if it means gaining a shot to get 2/4 of these players.
So my next question is do you think you can package Clarkson & Randle for anything valuable or maybe even entice New Orleans if things aren't working smoothly? i had a scenario that may be possible.
1) Trade Cousins for Randle, Clarkson, Brewer and maybe a pair of second rounders. This is done only if Boogie expresses that he has interest in staying, hell even if he doesn't we don't lose anyone we weren't gonna lose this offseason anyway. Having him here for half a season and already on board would do wonders for trying to get another AS caliber player here. we resign him for the max and that leaves about 41-42 to sign another max & a cheap starter.
From the Pelicans standpoint it works out extremely well for them because even without Boogie their capped out and can't add anyone of real use if he leaves. Doing this trade gets them a scoring guard, which they desperately need & gives them another young player in Randle who would fit well next to A.D. Not to mention that they would have his bird rights, with not too many teams having cap room next season they may be able to sign randle for a pretty decent deal. Whether we think Randle is a star or not isn't the point, he would still be the second biggest asset they have & has potential to play well with that team.