Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Trade Deadline: Every Team’s Most Untouchable Asset

By Maxwell Ogden

Nov 30, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) during an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) during an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
15 of 31
Next
Jan 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Nik Stauskas (11) defends Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Lakers won 93-84. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Nik Stauskas (11) defends Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Lakers won 93-84. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Los Angeles Lakers: Julius Randle

In 2016-17, the Los Angeles Lakers will do something that hasn’t been done since 1995-96: play a full season without Kobe Bryant. Bryant, arguably the greatest player in franchise history, will retire after the completion of the 2015-16 campaign.

No one truly knows what will come of the post-Bryant Lakers, but if there’s one player who shouldn’t be moved before that experiment commences, it’s Julius Randle.

Randle, the No. 7 overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft, has rebounded well from the season-ending injury that limited him to one game played in 2014-15. He’s averaging a double-double in 27.3 minutes of action per game, and has the body and skill set to become something special.

Byron Scott may be brutally mismanaging his and D’Angelo Russell’s minutes, but that duo has immense potential in Los Angeles.

Randle’s averages of 11.1 points and 10.0 rebounds in 27.3 minutes are intriguing enough, but it’s his versatility that should capture the NBA’s attention. He’s a bruising 250 pounds with the ball-handling, midrange game, court vision, and post moves to be a phenomenal offensive player.

Parting ways with a 21-year-old Randle would be to give up on what could be a decade of brilliance with him helpign to lead the charge.

Next: Memphis Grizzlies