Julius Randle

Lakers Larry Nance Jr. and other players to be traded for Pelicans Anthony Davis?

Larry Nance Slam dunk of the Year

The Lakers are willing to break their young core for a potential big catch in the free agency.

There have been a few bright spots in the otherwise a miserable season for the Los Angeles Lakers. They got the biggest steal last year’s draft in Kyle Kuzma. They managed to snap the winning streak of the Houston Rockets. Oh and don’t forget about their game against the Golden State Warriors when the defending champions needed an extra period just to beat the Lakers by a small margin. If anything, this has been competitive the Lakers have become in the last few seasons. But then again, sticking around like glue against the Warriors won’t be enough to bring the Lakers back to the playoffs and certainly won’t be enough to lure big names next season.
And despite their win over the struggling Atlanta Hawks which ended their losing streak, the Lakers are still at the bottom of the Western Conference thanks to their 12-27 record as they have dropped 9 of their last 10 games. And yet they are hoping to sign the likes of Paul George and LeBron James in the next off-season? Who would want to sign with a bottom-dweller team in the first place?
Despite their struggles, the Lakers are still willing to break their young core who has been the primary reason for their 12 wins this season- so far, just to have enough space for a big star. Aside from Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson whose names have been constantly included in the trade rumors, there’s a new name added and it belongs to Larry Nance Jr. Remember his dunk over Kevin Durant? Can you just imagine him doing that while wearing another uniform?
Apparently, the Lakers wanted to make sure that they will have the need cap space to lure big names come July 2018 and they are appearing to have been pushing that big panic button for a long time now.Take away the Randle problem because he’s likely to be traded anyway but Clarkson? Nance Jr.? Larry Nance Jr. may have only played 28 games this season due to injury issues and he’s only averaging 8 points per game but if you look at the Lakers’ win against the Hawks, Nance Jr. is one of their 8 players who scored in double figures, totaling 13 points and 8 rebounds. So trading Larry Nance Jr. is a big gamble despite his injury problems.

Conclusion

Just a few weeks ago, Larry Nance Jr’s name was actually included in the 6 players that the Lakers were willing to send to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Anthony Davis. While that trade remains a rumor to this day,  it can always happen. The question is: Will the Lakers pull the trigger this time around without any assurance that any trade will guarantee them landing LeBron James?
That remains to be seen.  

3 Big NBA Stars Likely to be Traded this Month

With trade season already in full swing, expect these players in different teams before February.

The trades that were made during the off-season prior to the current season were blockbuster ones that some fans even made pre-season predictions that their respective teams will beat this and that. And now that the trade restrictions are off the hook, we can expect more of those blockbuster trades especially now that the February trade deadline is fast approaching. 
During the first three months of the 2017-2018 season, the NBA has been rocked by the deafening noise that is created by the trade rumors surrounding big names. With January already a few days old, we should be seeing some of those rumors to become a reality and below are the three BIG stars who are likely to be playing for another team come February: 

1. Paul George

Despite playing alongside Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony in the Oklahoma City Thunder, Paul George’s name has been connected to various trade rumors which included a trade that could send him to the Los Angeles Lakers- a team PG13 is desiring to play for. For this trade to happen, the Lakers could offer Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson in exchange for Paul George. 
While trading Jordan Clarkson is definitely a heavy decision for the Lakers because JC6 has emerged as a solid leader off the bench, trading Julius Randle will be easier because he isn’t fond of coming off the bench. If this trade happens, it will be a win-win situation for both teams because Paul George now gets to play for his hometown while Julius Randle gets a fresh start with the Thunder alongside Jordan Clarkson who could start at shooting guard for the Thunder. 

2. Julius Randle

As mentioned above, Julius Randle is no longer happy with his decreased role while playing for Luke Walton. So expect him to be sent elsewhere where he would be utilized better. Possible destinations for Randle would be the Thunder, Denver Nuggets and, yes, even the still-struggling New York Knicks. Julius Randle could be a valuable asset to any team who could get him because he is still young and can still develop into a dominant power forward.  

3. DeAndre Jordan

DJ’s Los Angeles Clippers are playing catching up for the 8th spot in the Western Conference as they are riding on their 4-game winning streak. However, with injuries to key players,  the Clippers are no longer the same team they used to be during the Chris Paul era. 
And despite DJ playing well this season, it appears that the Clippers are no longer interested in paying for DJ’s hefty salary as they have been engaged in numerous talks with opposing teams in hopes of getting someone of high quality in exchange for Jordan, one of the league’s elite centers. Right now, there are two teams who have the potential to land DJ: the Milwaukee Bucks and the Cleveland Cavaliers.   

Conclusion

Of the three mentioned players, Paul George has the highest possibility of getting traded owing to the current situation in Oklahoma. Why? They have yet to perform like the super team they were supposed to be. Who knows? Trading one of their stars might help actually help the Thunder. 

Rumor: Julius Randle annd Jordan Clarkson Up for Grabs

Julius Randle annd Jordan Clarkson Up for Grabs

The Lakers are said to have offer two of its best players in various trades

While there’s no doubt that the current roster of the Los Angeles Lakers has both the talent and the potential to develop into a playoff-bound team, they have yet to make a significant impact in the Western Conference as they are sitting in 14th place with an 11-23 record- the second-worst record in the West. They head into their match-up against the Houston Rockets having dropped 8 of their last 10 games which include a 121-106 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers. And just by looking at their schedule, things won’t get any better for the Purple and Gold.
The Lakers are also one of the most active teams as of late as they are either trying to get rid or trade their players in hopes of creating enough cap space in hopes that they can lure superstars such as LeBron James and Paul George come July of 2018. While there’s no assurance that either LeBron and/or PG13 will sign with the Lakers, Magic Johnson and company are working round the clock trying to figure out the best trade deals that could help improve the team’s standings because as it is, it appears that they are back to doing the one thing that they are good at over the past seasons: losing tons of games.
As of now, there are two notable players whom the Lakers are reportedly trying to ship via a trade. These players are Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle. While there’s no word as to which team did the Lakers offer these two but the thing is: they are trying to trade two of the members of their young core.Jordan Clarkson is currently the team’s third-leading scorer, averaging 14 points per game. Julius Randle is averaging 12 points per game while coming off the bench the first 33 games of the season. While Randle has said that he’s accepting whatever role he will be given, sources have also said that Randle is growing unhappy with his deteriorating minutes- making it a bit easy for the Lakers to decide to offer him in a trade.

Conclusion

Trading Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle is something that the Lakers must decide on carefully because a bad trade will not improve their chances of a possible playoff appearance nor will help them lure big names come July 2018. 
Now, if you’re gonna ask this pundit on wheels as to who among Clarkson and Randle does he want the Lakers to retain, it would be Jordan Clarkson. Why? He is playing one of his best careers as a scorer, registering his highest 3-point shooting percentage at 35.2% and a true shooting percentage of 53.2% He can help the Lakers just by being the leader off the bench- something that Randle isn’t fond of doing. 

The Randle-Noel Trade: The What Could Have Been

The trade was initially discussed but didn’t materialize.

Julius Randle’s name has been in numerous trade rumors even before the start of the regular season. This is due to the fact that according to the insiders from the Los Angeles Lakers, Randle has already grown unhappy with his new role with the team- a player who used to be a starter in the past, now a player who is coming off the bench this season. 
While Randle has been successful in his new role despite only playing 22 minutes per game on the average, he already indicated in numerous interviews that he doesn’t have the choice but to embrace his new role as a bench player who is also averaging 12 points, 6 rebounds and close to 2 assists per game this season. He’s the sixth-leading scorer of the Lakers.
There were many rumors in which Julius Randle’s name is included. While none of those trades materialized, some of those are pretty much interesting. Among the trade rumors that were apparently entertained by the Lakers was the one that would have sent Randle to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Nerleans Noel.

If the trade happened or is to happen before the trade deadline, who would benefit more?

Both

Julius Randle would have benefited from the trade because he would have been teaming up with Dirk Nowitzki by now. The Mavericks would have gained a young power forward who can slide down to the small forward spot at times. Adding Randle into the mix would have added 3 wins in the projected number of wins for Dallas.
On the other side of the court, Nerleans Noel, a player whose career has been ruined by numerous injuries, can benefit from this change of scenery for one good reason: his playing minutes have dropped this season as he’s only logging in 12 minutes per game- a career low for him. While the Lakers’ projected number of wins is decreased by 3 wins, this trade will benefit them in the long run especially if Noel manages to finally stay out of injury. 

Conclusion

While the trade hasn’t materialized, it’s almost certain that Julius Randle will be one of the Lakers who are likely to be traded before the trade deadline in February. Where will he be playing next? The possibilities are unlimited. Who knows? He might end up playing for a championship-contending team. 

Anthony Davis to the Lakers: The Rumor

Will the Lakers pull the trigger?

The Los Angeles Lakers have been included in the numerous trade rumors as of late and that’s not surprising at all considering the mere fact that the team hasn’t been consistent in most of their games despite having Lonzo Ball, one of the most-hyped rookies in recent memory.  Right now, the Lakers are sitting at 11th place in the Western Conference with an 11-18 record. They have lost 7 of their last 10 games.
The Lakers are said to be targeting various stars from other teams and among those stars whose names have been making loud noise is none other than Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans.
To begin with, the Pelicans, despite having their own Twin Towers of Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, are not in a good situation either with regards to their standing. Sure, they are in 8th place in the West right now with a 15-16 record but if you want to make a deep run into the playoffs, then you need to win more games to improve your playoff position and avoid meeting stronger teams in the first round.
Anthony Davis has been averaging 25 points per game this season, the second leading scorer of the Pelicans. Any team who will acquire Davis via a trade will benefit in many ways because Davis has also been known as a great defender and a rebounder.
Now, the Lakers are said to be willing to give up 5 players plus a 2020 draft pick. Who are these players?
  • Jordan Clarkson
  • Julius Randle
  • Larry Nance Jr.
  • Corey Brewer
  • Andrew Bogut
In return, the Pelicans will send Anthony Davis and Ian Clark.
Assuming that this trade will happen, will the Lakers’ state improve?
If you look at ESPN’s Trade Machine, the analysis states that this trade will have no effect on the winning percentage of the Pelicans and, this trade will also decrease 4 wins on the projected number of wins by the Lakers.

Conclusion

While getting Anthony Davis will improve the atmosphere in the locker room of the Lakers in terms of having a big star, giving up 5 players is too much. But then again, anything is possible in the NBA, right? And in the past, the Lakers have been making lopsided trades. 

Fixing the OKC Situation: Trade Paul George?

Having three stars isn’t helping the Thunder right now

While there’s no doubt that having three or more superstars on your team can instantly turn any struggling team into a championship contender, it doesn’t work that way all the time. 
A perfect example of this was when Dwight Howard and Steve Nash joined Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol in the Lakers a few years back. Injury and chemistry issues struck the team during that one season that they were together. Although that team made the playoffs, they were a total disappointment.
Heading into the current NBA season, many were surprised and shocked that the Oklahoma City Thunder were able to pull off two blockbuster trades that enable them to put Carmelo Anthony and Paul George alongside reigning MVP, Russell Westbrook. 
While this trio of stars is already enough to challenge the Golden State Warriors, this hasn’t been the case right now as the Thunder have lost 5 of their last 10 games which put them at a 12-14 record which essentially puts them outside of the playoff picture.
Although the Thunder have a few nice games that they have won over the course of the first few months of the regular season, they aren’t in sync just yet. They are trying to figure out how to play with one another. Although they are among the league’s best defensive teams, Oklahoma has yet to display its full offensive power. Sure, they’ve already defeated Warriors earlier this season but they’ve also lost games to some of the league’s worst teams and that’s not how a super team supposed to play.
So what can the Thunder do to turn this ugly season around?
Firing Billy Donovan as head coach will not have an immediate effect on the Thunder so they can erase that option, for now. And so will trading one of the three stars. However, we all know that even last season, Paul George has already indicated that he intends to play for the Los Angeles Lakers in the future. And ye, the Indiana Pacers delt PG13 to the Thunder.
Having said that, the Thunder can trade Paul George to the Lakers in exchange for Julius Randle, Luol Deng and the Lakers’ draft pick for 2020. Why Julius Randle and Luol Deng?
There have been many speculations that the Lakers are trying to move both Randle and Deng with Randle appearing to be unhappy with his decreased role. Assuming that this trade will materialize, the Lakers will gain more than what they will be losing. And, the Thunder will gain a young and promising forward and a veteran.

Conclusion

Trading Paul George who is averaging 20 points and 5 rebounds this season will be a huge gamble for Oklahoma but the truth is, they’ve already gambled when they assembled their own Big 3 and look where it got them. The rest of the league is laughing at them. A trade can help start turning things around for the Thunder. It doesn’t have to be Paul George but it has to be one of the three stars. 

A Wheeler’s Opinion: Will the Lakers Trade Julius Randle?

Randle’s slowly decreasing role means he’s not included in the long-term plans of LA

The question is: Where will Julius Randle play after this season?
The Los Angeles Lakers are not yet in its glorious form. Not. Yet. Yes, they got one of the most hyped and yet, almost disappointing rookies in the history of the NBA in Lonzo Ball who, a few days ago, became the youngest NBA player to record a triple-double, a record previously held by LeBron James. 
Yes, the Lakers got one of the biggest steals from this year’s draft in Kyle Kuzma who is playing way better than the number 2 pick. And yet, they are still at the 11th place in the West, thanks to their 6-8 record.
Who is leading the Lakers nowadays? Many people think it should be Lonzo Ball. Many people think it should be Brandon Ingram. But no, it’s Jordan Clarkson who is currently leading the team, at least in scoring with 15 points per game- all while coming off the bench.

So where’s Julius Randle in all of this?

In 14 games so far, Randle hasn’t started for the Lakers even though he’s relatively a  young veteran. To explain how decreased the role of Randle is, he’s been playing for 19 minutes on the average. Kyle Kuzma for one, has averaged 31 playing minutes per game and has started for 6 of the 14  games for the Lakers, so far. Larry Nance Jr., who is out due to an injury, has averaged 23 playing minutes in the 8 games that he started.
Yes, Julius Randle is leading the team in field goal percentage, making 58% of his shot attempts. Yes, he is averaging 11 points and 6 rebounds per game. And yes, we all know he’s capable of scoring more than just 11 points. But, we haven’t seen that.
Here’s the problem, folks:
Randle is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current season as the Lakers didn’t offer a contract extension before the season began unless Magic Johnson and company extends an offer. Nah!

What will happen to Randle?

If you were to ask this basketball pundit on wheels, it’s likely that the Lakers will trade Julius Randle for a first-round draft pick before the trade deadline. 
Why? Once Larry Nance Jr. gets back into shape, the Lakers will get a healthy frontcourt once again with Brook Lopez at the top of things. So Randle’s minutes will continue to deteriorate. There’s no point for the Lakes to keep him especially if they want to have enough cash to attract superstars.

Conclusion 

Trade him and you might get another steal from the draft. Let him walk and you gain a roster spot. 
Keep him? Your money is sleeping. If you were to ask this pundit on wheels, just trade him or let him walk. 
Who knows? Paul George might come to Hollywood. So might LeBron James. But the Lakers will need to act quickly and, smart. 

Wait is that him? Lakers Julius Randle’s Shocking Body Transformation

When Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka said they wanted everyone to be in the best shape of their lives, you just have to comply, and Julius Randle just did that.
The 22-year-old 7th overall pick of the Los Angeles Lakers is due for a breakout season, after averaging 13 points per game, 8 rebounds, the young baller is working out to improve his fitness and athleticism and by the looks of it, he has done well.
Check out the transformation below.

New Season, New Headquarter and Practice Facility for the Lakers

Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, Jordan
Clarkson. D’Angelo Russell and Ivica Zubac

The under-construction UCLA Health Training Center will be the new home of the Lakers and Development League’s D-Fenders. It is scheduled to open in the fall of 2017. The Lakers will own their new building rather than lease space, as they do now from the NHL’s LA Kings.

Lakers COO Tim Harris said that it is not a sponsorship. It is a true partnership with UCLA. Not only the team will have their new practice facility, UCLA Health will also serve as the exclusive in-game health provider.

“The new building is three times the size of the one we’re in now. It’s got state-of-the-art everything,” coach Luke Walton said.

Miss Jeanie Buss, and the mayor of El Segundo was also at the event.

Source: Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Daily News

Jordan Clarkson Highlights 10/13 /2015: My First Year Aint a FLUKE!

Jordan Clarkson – Proud to be pinoy!
Clarkson scored 17 pts dished out 4 assists with 2 steals, even though the Lakers lost, he managed to put up a decent game and proved that his first year was not a fluke, with Russel D’Angelo injured its time for Clarkson to really step up and proved to everyone that he is the real deal.
Here is the highlight’s from the game:

Written by:
Aldrin C.
Team Powcast