2018 NBA free agency: Early predictions for where top 15 players will sign

11. Julius Randle, PF, Los Angeles Lakers (Restricted)

Where he will sign: Los Angeles Lakers

Heading into the 2017-18 campaign, it seemed like Julius Randle was as good as gone. There were talks of his impending departure throughout the first half of the season, leading many to speculate that he’d be dealt before the February trade deadline.

Well that never happened. Instead, as the season went along, Randle got better and better. Soon, he wasn’t just a one-dimensional power forward with limited range — he was the heart and soul of the Lakers lineup. When they needed a big-time play or an injection of energy in a close game, Randle kept delivering.

Right now, the Lakers are getting it done. They may not make the playoffs, but they’ve looked like one of the better teams in the league since the All-Star break. Their young players are developing at a rapid pace, and it’s starting to look like they may not be as far off from playoff contention as some may assume.

If they can keep the key pieces in place and add one superstar this offseason, it may be enough to bump them into the upper half of the Western Conference. So instead of overspending on a free agent, they re-sign Randle, choosing continuity and chemistry over two shiny new stars.