If we deal Deng for zero cash back (something like Zubac/Cleveland 1st/Deng for a Protected future 1st) then we can get to two max slots while keeping Julius's cap hold of 12.5 million. We can also sign one max and keep Julius right now with or without stretching Deng. If we want two max slots without trading Deng, we'll need to stretch Deng and let Julius expire.
Thanks Real, that's what I thought. The question would then become, who/what do you trade to keep Randle and open up two max slots?
Again, I'm honestly not trying to bring up LeBron in every thread. I'm getting tired of defending my view literally everywhere on this site. It's getting weird to me how much you guys bring him up... But there's no reason to deny LeBron in favor of Julius anymore. Attach some minor assets and picks to Deng and move him. I'll give up two 1sts (Cleveland and a future pick) in order to keep Julius. And as for fitting the profile, certain players are above such profiles. I think someone of LeBron's talents (passing, scoring with high efficiency across the board) doesn't need to fit a profile. But also again: if we come away with just George and re-signing our own guys I'll be celebrating right along with everyone else. If we had George right now instead of Pope I think we're a playoff team. And Pope has been playing well, he's just not Paul George.
Once again, I am just so thrilled to see Randle destroying the opposition down low. Bodies flying, folks hitting the floor. I'm a broken record, but we haven't had a guy this strong, quick and brutal in the paint since Shaq. It makes me so happy to see the return of pulverizing force in the post. Julius is so fun to watch. What about that block on Pau and then pushing it up the floor all the way? Beautiful.
So did Ball... Gasol has a habit of extending his shot, holding it up longer and asking defenders to get it. Two live, explosive bodies in Randle and Ball? No contest.
Poor Pau ... he's there for a rebound and Randle comes flying over his back and cracks him in the head hard with his elbow. Then the camera is on Pau looking up at the scoreboard's replay to see why it's not being called for worse than it was called (probably). And right as you can tell that part is up there his face starts reacting in horror / disbelief at the unfairness of the play and the camera cuts away.
Yep, shades of Blake Griffin who did the same thing. Still like Gasol for what he contributed. Same jab steps, screams after every play but much slower and less nimble. I enjoy seeing Randle just brutalize others in the paint. Walton is tough on Randle probably because he sees so much untapped potential and power. Those periods on the bench made him "see" the game, take constructive criticism and prepare for it. We already know that the young man takes his game seriously so in a way it worked. Showing professionalism and maturity, Randle hasn't acted out, just play his heart out every play, every game.
I don't know why we started settling for jumpers and bad drives in the 4th when Julius was eating them alive in the paint all game long. The Blazers were out of fouls with 9 minutes left in the 3rd, and we didn't take advantage of that. Also, he came in far too late when Portland started to make their run. Once things started getting out of hand, we went to him, but with no structure.
He was dominant through those three quarters for sure. Once again I loved the havoc he was reeking down low. So fun to watch the bodies fly. We should've gone back to him sooner in the fourth. But there were a lot of things we should have differently down the stretch in the fourth!!
Like Damian Lillard .... in his own larger, stronger, more painful style .... Julius Randle is a Bad man. He is doing this like clockwork now every game. Over 20 points, good defense, good FTs and incredible offense down low with his goofy sometimes looking shots. I saw him catch another guy last night around the eye with his off hand coming down but that really looked accidental. Maybe. It was really extended. Maybe he does that for balance?
I think it’s for balance and also a buffer to create space. You rarely see him extend and push, but he’s so strong that just holding that arm out gives the necessary space to get off some of those tough, inside shots.
This is an honest question. We are all salivating over getting Paul George, but PG isn't a top 10 NBA player. He's a very, very good one, but not top 10. So with that in mind, at what point do we sort of have to take a step back and consider resigning Randle as more important that Paul George? We need a player like Randle on our roster. You can make the argument that we have a player like Paul George in Ingram already. I'm NOT saying we are there yet. Randle is not as good as Paul George. But in the last month or so, he has been close.
There's no reason we'd have to choose, but if you're making me then I want George. Randle has certainly been great though and I'm glad we don't have to choose.
