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2019 NBA free agency: 5 potential landing spots for Julius Randle

By Simon Smith

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 06: Julius Randle #30 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after making a three point basket against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on February 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 06: Julius Randle #30 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after making a three point basket against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on February 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

5. Indiana Pacers

Despite the unfortunate season-ending knee injury to All-Star guard Victor Oladipo, the Indiana Pacers nonetheless managed to make it through to the postseason for the fourth consecutive year. However, with each of these appearances resulting in a first round exit, the makeup of the roster moving forward is something that will need to be seriously assessed.

From last season’s roster, Thaddeus Young, Tyreke Evans, Bojan Bogdanovic, Darren Collison and Cory Joseph are all unrestricted free agents, hence leaving the Pacers with just $57.9 million on the books for 2019-20. In terms of Randle fitting in with the Pacers, this would naturally be at the expense of Young, the team’s incumbent power forward.

With starting center Myles Turner taking a step forward last season in leading the league in blocked shots, and third-year forward/center Domantas Sabonis being one of three players in the running for the Sixth Man of the Year award, inserting Randle into this rotation would provide the Pacers with one of the most impressive young frontcourts in the league.

https://twitter.com/PelicansNBA/status/1106748563881689088

Considering Young’s limitations from the outside, the Pacers would be banking on Randle continuing to improve and evolve his 3-point shooting in order to provide the necessary spacing to be an effective offensive team.

When taking into account Randle’s improvement and upside, and the difficulty they generally  have in landing marquee free agents, adding the former No. 7 overall pick out of Kentucky would represent a worthwhile investment for the Pacers.