The Los Angeles Lakers renounced Julius Randle to make cap space for Pelicans point guard Rajon Rondo. The Lakers gave Rondo a one-year deal worth $9 million. The Pelicans essentially traded Rondo to the Lakers because they will acquire Julius Randle for the same dollar figure no less. This time the deal will be for two seasons worth a total of $18 million.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN was the first to report the news:
Free agent Julius Randle has agreed to a two-year, $18M deal with New Orleans, league sources tell ESPN. Player option second year.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2018
Woj also later added that Anthony Davis was a driving force in recruiting Randle. The former 7th overall pick is still a young player with room to grow. He worked hard over the past offseason to transform his body and be a bull in the china shop of sorts. Across 26.7 minutes per game, Randle averaged 16.1 points, 8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists on 56 percent shooting. With the addition of Randle, it probably means Anthony Davis goes back to the 5 position with Randle at the 4.
It’s hard to imagine what this means for DeMarcus Cousins. Does the Randle signing signal the end for Cousins in New Orleans? The Pelicans don’t even have the cap space to sign Randle. The mid-level exception would allow the team to offer Randle a deal worth $17.7 million over two years. This probably means Cousins is gone but they could go deep into the tax to retain him.
You also have to wonder who is going to take over the point guard spot for the Pelicans. Rondo was so good for them in the postseason proving to be a huge force in the first round sweep of the Trail Blazers. It’s the first playoff series win during the Davis era and they will have to roll the dice without their point guard maestro.
