Los Angeles Lakers Receive: F Julius Randle, G Derrick Rose, 2023 First-Round Pick (NYK)
New York Knicks Receive: C/F Anthony Davis
With LeBron James on the roster, the Los Angeles Lakers are likely to remain firmly in win-now mode. The undisputed GOAT candidate may be 37, but he’s as productive as ever in his old age.
Whether this deal furthers that goal is up for debate. Julius Randle may not be the cleanest fit alongside James. They’re both playmaking bigs who thrive with the ball in their hands.
Historically, the golden rule of building around LeBron has been to surround him with floor spacing. With Randle shooting 30.8% from deep this season, he doesn’t necessarily fit those qualifications.
On the other hand, he did convert on 41.1% of his three-point attempts last season. He’s unlikely to hit those heights again, but i’s possible his shooting is due for some regression to the mean.
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Meanwhile, Derrick Rose has exceeded 40% from distance over two straight seasons. His shooting has come a long way since he teamed up with LeBron in 2017-18. His blend of elite floor-spacing and strong secondary playmaking would be a perfect compliment to James’ talents next season.
That’s not the only feel-good reunion this deal facilitates. Julius Randle sported the purple-and-yellow right up until the season LeBron James joined the team. Narratives are fun, but production is better: if Randle can bump his three-point efficiency back up, this deal could improve the Lakers in the short term.
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In all likelihood, the acquisition of Rose would come at the expense of Westbrook. Whether the Los Angeles Lakers managed to find a buyer for the veteran or facilitated a buyout, they’d be happy to pair LeBron James with a better-fitting point guard.
