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“Why Would the Knicks Be Interested in Anything the Lakers Had to Offer?”: Fans Bash LeBron James’ Lakers After Their Unwillingness to Trade for Former All-Star

Published 08/25/2022, 9:00 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

The NBA off-season has seen several franchises work tirelessly to bolster their rosters with fresh additions. The Los Angeles Lakers are one of those teams who hope to build upon their shortcomings from last season. Several big names have been linked with a relocation to Los Angeles, but the Lakers haven’t been particularly fruitful in the trade or free agent market so far.

With Kyrie Irving joining the Lakers looking to be a pipe dream for the Lake Show fanbase, they must look elsewhere. Several names have recently cropped up in the Lakers rumor mill. However, one name that Lakers fans should expect to be dropped from consideration is Julius Randle.

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USA Today via Reuters

A former Laker, Randle has played some of his best basketball as a member of the New York Knicks. However, the previous season indicated that the Knicks were looking to let Randle walk and take a different route. But don’t expect him to return to the team where he started off his career.

According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, the Los Angeles Lakers aren’t interested in taking back Randle from the Knicks. And there are several reasons for this. The first issue is in his contract. The power forward is set to make $117 million over the next four seasons, with the fourth year being a player option.

Following last season’s organizational breakdown, the Lakers intend to play it smart this season. As a result, they’d want to be as financially nimble as possible.

The second issue is the fit Randle will be alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. When the team added Russell Westbrook last season, chemistry concerns were apparent on the court. As a result, they’ll have to be more cautious in that department moving forward. If the Lakers want to go that winning route once again, they must arguably surround James and Davis with the right pieces.

Fans react to the Lakers’ unwillingness to make a move for Julius Randle

Julius Randle made a significant leap as a player with the New York Knicks. He displayed his dynamic offensive skill set and even made his first all-star game as a Knick.

Despite Massive $136 Million Contract, Kobe Bryant and Lakers’ Love Story Could Have Ended if Not for Two Lesser Known Reasons

However, his deteriorating shooting stats have been a source of concern for the team. His field goal percentage and three-point percentage both dropped significantly following a stellar year in 2020-21.

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Therefore, adding someone like Randle, who appears to be cold from beyond the arc, would have perhaps exacerbated the Lakers’ woes.

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Here are some of the best reactions to the news from NBA Twitter:

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Written by:

Ritvik Malhotra

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Ritvik is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Having completed his Bachelor's in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University, Ritvik has finally got his foot in the door as a professional sports writer. He previously interned at another media house where he authored over 150 soccer articles, but he is now writing about his primary obsession, basketball.
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Edited by:

Veer Badani