The Julius Randle Thread

[shangrila]

This question is for anyone who might have a resource to track this easily. Is there any to see how much each team has to spend in free agency? Preferably with the ability to view all teams at once? I ask because Randle’s market seems limited, and absent bird rights or a sign and trade I doubt he can make close to what he wants either next year or long term.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cap/_/year/2025/sort/cap_maximum_space_optimized/dir/desc

First link when I googled it.

Funny, when I googled it my first link was this hot mess

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cap/_/year/2025/sort/cap_maximum_space

Yep, and then you just sort by projected cap space.

You're not going to get a definitive and accurate answer to this question, there's too many variables.

[winforlose]

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cap/_/year/2025/sort/cap_maximum_space_optimized/dir/desc

First link when I googled it.

Funny, when I googled it my first link was this hot mess

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cap/_/year/2025/sort/cap_maximum_space

Yep, and then you just sort by projected cap space.

You're not going to get a definitive and accurate answer to this question, there's too many variables.

You are very likely correct. Thank you for your help all the same

[FrenchMinnyFan]

Will be interesting how Finch will manage Randle return. I'm afraid he will be back as a starter which is a mistake for me. Naz as a a starter and Randle taking care of the offense in the second team will be a much better option.

[ILC]

The good play started with Randle in the lineup, so I have no issues if he goes back to the starting lineup (which I think he will).

What needs to happen though is better rotation throughout the game bw him, Naz and Rudy and 2 guys who are playing the best need to finish games instead of the 2 starters almost always.

[winforlose]

The good play started with Randle in the lineup, so I have no issues if he goes back to the starting lineup (which I think he will).

What needs to happen though is better rotation throughout the game bw him, Naz and Rudy and 2 guys who are playing the best need to finish games instead of the 2 starters almost always.

It’s not really about JR. Naz is the future and JR is something between the present and the past. The experience of Naz starting and playing more with Ant and Jaden is valuable enough to offset any marginal improvement you get from JR starting.

The above being true I cannot shake the idea that we might have long terms plans for JR. I keep asking myself who is gonna pay him 30+ and where does the money come from. JR has had serious injuries in both the last 2 seasons and going into next season without guaranteed money at 31 might be uncomfortable enough for him to want to extend for less. If we could get JR on a 2 or 3 deal around 22 million that 8 million saved could go directly to Naz. Now JR is 22, Naz is 23, and we have enough cap to extend NAW, sign a tax payer MLE, sign both Det and Utah’s picks and still be under the 2nd apron. If Naz is the starter I suspect it keeps him here at 23. This feels like a path forward if the FO can pull it off.

[ILC]

I understand Naz is the better long term option, but we have to also remember that the main goal is still to win as many games and try to make as deep of a playoff run as possible. That's the team's stated goal, they're not prioritizing youth development over that.

And there is no reason to IMO, because the youth is developing quite nicely competing for wins rn.

[winforlose]

I understand Naz is the better long term option, but we have to also remember that the main goal is still to win as many games and try to make as deep of a playoff run as possible. That's the team's stated goal, they're not prioritizing youth development over that.

And there is no reason to IMO, because the youth is developing quite nicely competing for wins rn.

I agree that winning is the priority. But Naz is a free agent who can leave. I don’t want Naz to leave. In order to keep Naz we need him happy. I also think we are better with Naz playing more minutes and Randle playing less. Naz is not as much of an ISO player as Randle. When Ant goes ISO hero ball and Randle goes ISO the starters fall apart. Less Randle and Ant overlap is better for both players individually as well as the team. If that also happens to develop chemistry that will be useful both in this year’s and future playoffs, I can live with that .

[minimus]

I understand Naz is the better long term option, but we have to also remember that the main goal is still to win as many games and try to make as deep of a playoff run as possible. That's the team's stated goal, they're not prioritizing youth development over that.

And there is no reason to IMO, because the youth is developing quite nicely competing for wins rn.

It may very well be that Naz is the better option in the short term as well.

[ILC]

Maybe he is, maybe I'm stuck in the idea that I still see Randle as a "starting" player and Naz as a "6th man" because of their history, but I love Naz and I don't think there's any way he doesn't stay this summer. Unless BKN offers him 40 something million he doesn't have many options for 1) and for 2) he seems happy to me whether he comes off the bench or starts.

[winforlose]

Maybe he is, maybe I'm stuck in the idea that I still see Randle as a "starting" player and Naz as a "6th man" because of their history, but I love Naz and I don't think there's any way he doesn't stay this summer. Unless BKN offers him 40 something million he doesn't have many options for 1) and for 2) he seems happy to me whether he comes off the bench or starts.

This is a contact year for Naz, and his earning power is determined by his performance. His numbers are way better as a starter, and his performance has been instrumental in winning games. To be told you are good enough, but cannot show it when it matters to your financial future, that is a possible antagonism that I would like to avoid. I have never met Naz, never had a conversation with him, I don’t have any mutual friends with Naz, and I have never been a fly on his wall. I have no idea what will or will not satisfy Naz Reid. But I do know Naz’s best days are ahead of him, and Randle’s are likely behind him.

[Klomp]

Maybe he is, maybe I'm stuck in the idea that I still see Randle as a "starting" player and Naz as a "6th man" because of their history, but I love Naz and I don't think there's any way he doesn't stay this summer. Unless BKN offers him 40 something million he doesn't have many options for 1) and for 2) he seems happy to me whether he comes off the bench or starts.

Agreed. So many fans are terrified about Reid's happiness, but I feel like it's probably something they are aware of inside Mayo Clinic Square. We have a lot of experts behind keyboards wholike to project how they would feel in a situation onto players, but they interact with him and his agents on a daily basis. I trust that they know how their players and what they are looking for both in the immediate and longterm.

[winforlose]

Maybe he is, maybe I'm stuck in the idea that I still see Randle as a "starting" player and Naz as a "6th man" because of their history, but I love Naz and I don't think there's any way he doesn't stay this summer. Unless BKN offers him 40 something million he doesn't have many options for 1) and for 2) he seems happy to me whether he comes off the bench or starts.

Agreed. So many fans are terrified about Reid's happiness, but I feel like it's probably something they are aware of inside Mayo Clinic Square. We have a lot of experts behind keyboards wholike to project how they would feel in a situation onto players, but they interact with him and his agents on a daily basis. I trust that they know how their players and what they are looking for both in the immediate and longterm.

Remember Jimmy Butler? In 2017 Thibs was his friend and former coach. He had the power of the FO and the HC and he couldn’t make Jimmy happy. Remember Luka Doncic. Fans thought things were fine, behind the scenes… THEY WERE NOT!

Yes it is true that people who have direct contact have more information than we do. That does not mean that they will handle the situation correctly.

[Klomp]

Toxic.

Read on Twitter

[Loaf_of_bread]

Julius played great last night, and I am not a fan of his.

His contact situation is somewhat strange. Could be maybe considered unprecedented. He is worth around the value of the PO.

To me, and this is just pure speculation, but how I see Julius.. he's somewhat lazy, a tad immature, and has an ego from previous accolades (even though his numbers weren't that great in the east while the talent was in the West, particularly at pf).

He and his camp (agent) are just as confused as us whether he tries hard this year or next.

And you add in naz.. any chance Julius was playing with an accelerated effort level last night for the fact he doesn't want to come off the bench in favor of naz?

So many variables with how it will ultimately go down. Naz is just so loved by fans though that not signing him would be a mistake.

[younggunsmn]

The only good thing about Julius Randle being back is that he might play well enough the rest of the season to think it's a good idea to opt out of his contract this summer.
That was never going to happen if he missed the rest of the season to injury.

We are not paying both Naz and Julius next year.
And there's very little chance we can trade an opted in Randle with a significant salary savings as part of that return.

[Klomp]

Something I've been thinking about recently....I feel like this has been a season-long process of changing his game from Al Jefferson to Lamar Odom, but I think we're finally seeing it on the regular!

[winforlose]

Is Randle/Ant/Jaden/Naz/Rudy a viable starting 5? Is it a defensively capable unit for any length of time? Can Randle run the Point Forward with Ant as the only true guard? The more I think about the playoffs, the more I wonder if DDV isn’t used as a bench weapon, and Randle, Naz, and Rudy all play together. Jaden would of course defend the SG, Naz the SF, JR the PF, and Rudy the C.

[life_saver]

Is Randle/Ant/Jaden/Naz/Rudy a viable starting 5? Is it a defensively capable unit for any length of time? Can Randle run the Point Forward with Ant as the only true guard? The more I think about the playoffs, the more I wonder if DDV isn’t used as a bench weapon, and Randle, Naz, and Rudy all play together. Jaden would of course defend the SG, Naz the SF, JR the PF, and Rudy the C.

there is not enough ball handling required for that lineup...I just don't see Naz/Rudy/Randle working together.

[TimberKat]

Is Randle/Ant/Jaden/Naz/Rudy a viable starting 5? Is it a defensively capable unit for any length of time? Can Randle run the Point Forward with Ant as the only true guard? The more I think about the playoffs, the more I wonder if DDV isn’t used as a bench weapon, and Randle, Naz, and Rudy all play together. Jaden would of course defend the SG, Naz the SF, JR the PF, and Rudy the C.

there is not enough ball handling required for that lineup...I just don't see Naz/Rudy/Randle working together.

I don't see Randle/Naz/Gobert in the same line up for significant minutes. Our point guard play is most crucial and best indicator for W/L. I don't remember a single game that we won when Conley, Dilly, DDV all have a bad game or MIA.

[winforlose]

Is Randle/Ant/Jaden/Naz/Rudy a viable starting 5? Is it a defensively capable unit for any length of time? Can Randle run the Point Forward with Ant as the only true guard? The more I think about the playoffs, the more I wonder if DDV isn’t used as a bench weapon, and Randle, Naz, and Rudy all play together. Jaden would of course defend the SG, Naz the SF, JR the PF, and Rudy the C.

there is not enough ball handling required for that lineup...I just don't see Naz/Rudy/Randle working together.

I don't see Randle/Naz/Gobert in the same line up for significant minutes. Our point guard play is most crucial and best indicator for W/L. I don't remember a single game that we won when Conley, Dilly, DDV all have a bad game or MIA.

I agree about the importance of PG play. The question is how much of a difference is point Randle compared to Point DDV? DDV would still play 25-28 minutes. The bigger issue is whether we can play big if we need to, and whether we can survive a playoff series without Mike or Dilly?