During the offseason, Julius Randle relentlessly trained to get stronger and faster for this season. The front office told him to slim down, and he did just that. After nearly averaging a double-double last season, he wanted to take his game to the next level. Some critics point out that Randle's inflated stats last season were the result of stat-padding. Or they point to the fact that the Lakers' frontcourt only had Randle and Larry Nance Jr. as legitimate contributors, which accounts for Randle's high usage rate in a season where he averaged a career-high 28.8 minutes per game -- giving him ample opportunities to rack up the stats.

Julius Randle has one of the strongest bodies in the NBA, which separates him from many power-forwards. He has the body of a Zach Randolph, can handle the ball like Draymond Green, and can pass like a Lamar Odom if he wants to. However, his basketball IQ is a huge question mark, he occasionally makes the wrong reads (especially in the fast break), and he tends to force his shot with his left hand over taller defenders. 

With his impending free agency coming up, the Lakers will have to make a decision on whether to keep him or not. Randle will be a restricted free agent this offseason. But if Magic Johnson and the rest of the front office want to push for 2 max players, then they will likely have to rescind their RFA rights to Randle, making him an UFA (unrestricted free agent). This decision has become more complicated in recent weeks with Luke Walton inserting Randel into the starting lineup alongside Brook Lopez. Since then, the Lakers have been on a winning streak.

Minute Fluctuation

Julius Randle's 2017-2018 season has been a wild one too say the least. He started the season on the bench, and even experienced a stretch where he would only average 8 minutes at night. Currently, he is starting alongside Brook Lopez and the Lakers have been 4-1 ever since.

For a guy who is averaging 13.1 PPG, 7 RPG, and 2 APG, Randle possesses too much talent to waste. Maybe Luke Walton suddenly forgot how to incorporate Randle a season after he was the focal point of the offense, seemingly in the role Draymond Green plays for the Warriors. Since Randle is approaching free agency and needs minutes to prove himself worthy of a lucrative contract this offseason, he may not get what he needs from the Lakers. Some could argue that Randle is a poor fit for how the Lakers are currently constructed, but time will tell if that is really the case.

Frontcourt Logjam

(Stats according to Basketball-Reference)

The current frontcourt logjam is concerning for Randle because Kyle Kuzma and Larry Nance are simply outplaying him on both ends of the court. His bully ball mentality can be effective, but in a generation where the run and gun offense is the thing, he doesn't fit the Lakers' preferred style of play as well at Kuzma or Nance. Kuzma has the ability to stretch the floor and shoot the 3 ball; Nance can do all the little things well (such as fighting through screens and defending well in the paint) and can contribute major highlights as well. Together, these skills diminish Randle's touches on the floor. Also, with both Nance and Kuzma under contract with the Lakers for the next two years (at least), the front office would like to prioritize trading away expiring assets, and Randle might be the casualty of the Lakers' strong frontcourt. 

Although the trio's stats appear comparable, they do not tell the whole story. Randle's production is still impressive, but that does not necessarily make him more valuable to the Lakers than Kuzma or Nance. Arguably, Randle's greatest weakness is his intangibles. Sure he has the pure physical strength and speed to be a productive player in the NBA. But his basketball IQ and his tendency to be led by his emotions may keep him from achieving his full potential as a player. In a contract year, Randle needs to demonstrate that he can be a better teammate, not simply a stat padder.

Style of Play

Randle employs a rugged style of play, relying on his strength to muscle his way into the paint and get his shot up. The main critiques of his game are that he has a poor mid-range game, and he relies too heavily on his left hand. Luke Walton's teams demand fast-paced, free-flowing offense. Randle doesn't fit that bill. He needs to ball in his hands to create, and he does not move well off-the-ball with his cuts, making him a liability in an offense predicated on ball movement. Randle's expressive personality has also hurt the team chemistry at times. Still, he is a talented player whom many teams would love to have. However, the Lakers, who have two younger promising options at the PF position, may opt to retain Randle and pursue 1 max free agent this summer if the Lopez-Randle starting frontcourt pairing works out.