Following a genuine breakout season with the New Orleans Pelicans, here are five potential landing spots in 2019 NBA free agency for Julius Randle.
The moment the New Orleans Pelicans won the rights to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, the decision facing Julius Randle was essentially made for him.
With the Pelicans certain to select Zion Williamson with the No. 1 overall pick, the impact this would have on Randle’s ability to contribute next season and beyond makes his decision to opt out of the second year of his deal with the Pelicans all the more sensical.
In his sole season as a Pelican, Randle thrived in the up-tempo style of play employed by head coach Alvin Gentry. In 73 games, he averaged a career-high 21.4 points per game, along with 8.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 30.6 minutes per game. As a starter, these numbers jumped to 23.4 points and 8.9 rebounds a night in 49 games.
Pelicans‘ Julius Randle is not picking up his $9M player option for next season and will enter unrestricted free agency, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Randle is coming off his best NBA season (21.4 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 34.4 percent from 3-point range on 195 attempts).
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 17, 2019
While he clearly excelled in Gentry’s system, it was the expansion of his overall game that was most noticeable. Over his final three seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, Randle attempted a total of 144 shots from 3-point range, converting at a 25.7 percent clip. Last season alone, the 6’9″ Randle launched 195 times from long range, hitting at a reasonable 34.4 percent return.
Given he’s still just 24, there’s no reason to believe that Randle can’t further evolve his perimeter shooting, while also rounding out the other areas of his game.
So in a summer filled with a plethora of bigger name free agents, here are five potential landing spots for Julius Randle.