The NBA trade deadline is just one week away and rumors have been floating about the Los Angeles Lakers for months now. In particular, the names of Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson have been mentioned the most, with Larry Nance Jr. popping up as well.
With the Lakers planning on clearing out salary cap space for this summer, moving Randle and Clarkson would be necessary in securing requisite cap room to pursue two superstars. One question that has gone unanswered in regards to Randle is what teams would be interested in trading for him.
One team that may be interested is his hometown Dallas Mavericks. According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the Mavericks will reportedly target Randle in the coming days ahead of the trade deadline:
The Dallas Mavericks continue to pop up with regards to Labissière, although Mavericks sources said they value first round picks too greatly to pull the trigger. Those same sources pegged Lakers forward Julius Randle as a preferred target and where the Mavs will likely focus efforts in the coming days. Labissière could become a bigger option if the Lakers continue to not engage on the idea.
The Lakers are likely looking for expiring contracts and draft picks in any deals and the Mavericks offer both. Most notably big man Nerlens Noel and his expiring deal match up perfectly with Randle’s salary.
But the Lakers would certainly want a draft pick with that as well, and as Kyler noted, Dallas values their first-round picks.
Randle has been one of the Lakers most consistent players this season and has really stepped up recently. Over the last five games he is averaging 18.4 points and 10.2 rebounds.
The Mavericks having eyes for Randle makes sense as they are looking to rebuild around their young point guard Dennis Smith Jr. as well as Harrison Barnes. Whether talks heat up over the next week remains to be seen, but the Lakers will be a team to watch as is usually the case.
WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION? CHECK OUT THE NEW LAKERSNATION FORUM CLUB