The NBA season is nearly a month old, and while it's still very, very early on in the season, we have enough of a sample size to see who these teams look like they're going to be this year. Some teams are panicking, others are confident with where they are, and others already have an eye towards the future. Here's everything you need to know in today's NBA Rumors Roundup:
Lakers trying to part with Julius Randle
The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to maximize their cap space to make a run at two superstars next offseason and are willing to trade some of their young players to make that happen.
Julius Randle is set to be a restricted free agent this summer, and with him expected to receive large offer sheets from other teams on the open market, the Lakers likely won't be able to re-sign him while adhering to that plan. As such, they are hoping to trade him before the deadline, and if they can't they will part with him this summer, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
"One player whose future is very unlikely to continue with the Lakers is Julius Randle, their third year forward," Wojnarowski said. "Rob Pelinka, their general manager, and Magic Johnson, their president, will be faced with this question. Do they look to trade Randle between now and the February trade deadline and get back potentially a first-round draft pick for him, or do they roll the dice and wait until summer when he's a restricted free agent."
Larry Nance Jr. and rookie Kyle Kuzma have taken over at the four spot this season, leaving Randle as the odd-man out. He is averaging 11.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 19.2 minutes per game so far this season.
76ers will extend Robert Covington
The Philadelphia 76ers have one of the most promising young cores in the league, and they're hoping to keep that group together long-term. They will start that process by signing Robert Covington to an extension this week, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times.
Robert Covington is eligible to sign a contract extension Wednesday and league sources say Philly is indeed on course to seal that new deal as soon as it’s permissible
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 10, 2017
The widespread expectation: Roughly $15 million immediately injected into Covington’s 2017-18 renegotiated season to set up a slightly reduced figure in subsequent extension years
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 10, 2017
Covington is averaging 16.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 30.1 minutes per game this season.
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Thunder hold closed-door meeting
The Oklahoma City Thunder have gotten off to a disappointing 4-7 start to the season following last night's loss to the Denver Nuggets, and the team held a closed-door meeting to try and get on the right track, according to the Norman Transcript.
It gave players and coaches, alike, the opportunity to talk out some of the issues they've had on the current four-game losing streak, which has dropped the team to 4-7 on the season.
"You have to talk about it. You have to look at it. You have to be up front with everybody," Carmelo Anthony said. "Everybody's got to be held accountable for what's going on."
"Meetings just make sure we all stay together no matter what," point guard Raymond Felton said. "Everybody said their piece. Coach said his piece…Right now, we going through something, and we got to stick together no matter what."&
OKC's next game is tonight when the host the Los Angeles Clippers.
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