The Los Angeles Lakers are rumored to be looking for a star player to trade for this summer, possibly Paul George or LeBron James. However, if the team wants to be able to keep Julius Randle, they may not afford to bring in George and James, who are set to be free agents. The Lakers may also have a chance to trade for San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard if they act fast.
In the latest Lakers Nation podcast, host Trevor Lane and Lakers Nation reporter Hannah Kulik discussed the rumors and speculations surrounding the Lakers and the future of the team once summer comes around.
According to Lane and Kulik, Randle has been playing very well for the Lakers this season, with Kulik speculating that the Lakers may be thinking about keeping Randle instead of trading him off. Lane agrees, and says that it is possible that Randle will be a "core piece" for the Lakers. However, it is also possible that the Lakers may only be keeping the Dallas-born player until the trade deadline. The Dallas Mavericks may also make a play for Randle this summer.
Thus, if the Lakers want to keep Randle on their roster, they will likely have to match whatever another team might offer him. However, this can get complicated since the Lakers are also possibly looking to sign Paul George or LeBron James, who will become free agents by the offseason.
If the Lakers go for George and James, they may not be able to keep Randle. However, the Lakers likely have enough time to make a final deal with George and James before having to make a final decision on Randle. This means that the team is unlikely to lose all three players.
The team also has a chance to sign Leonard, who is reportedly on the outs with the Spurs. If the Lakers want Leonard, though, they may have to be quick and decisive. Last season, there were reports that the Lakers came close to trading for George while he was still playing for the Indiana Pacers. However, rumor had it that the Pacers were asking for too much for the star player, and the Lakers waited too long for George to become a free agent.
George reportedly wanted to be traded to the Lakers, and he may finally get his wish in the offseason.
During the Lakers Nation podcast, Lane and Kulik speculated on the possibility of the Lakers trading for Leonard, who is reportedly on the outs with his team. Kulik thinks that the Lakers should trade Lonzo Ball for Leonard, since Ball has had an injury-ridden season despite being a younger player.
However, Lane fears that the situation with George may happen again with Leonard, which may mean that the Lakers would have to be more decisive if they want to sign the star Spurs player.
