Randle becomes free agent, quickly joins Pelicans

Shortly after becoming an unrestricted free agent, Julius Randle found a new employer after agreeing to a two-year, $18 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, according to multiple reports.

The Los Angeles Lakers renounced their $5.56 million qualifying offer to Randle earlier Monday to clear space to sign ex-Pelicans point guard Rajon Rondo, paving the way for the 23-year-old Randle to quickly find a new team.

Randle will team up front in New Orleans with All-Star Anthony Davis. DeMarcus Cousins, who started 48 games for the Pelicans last year before a season-ending torn Achilles, reportedly joined the Golden State Warriors on a one-year pact later Monday.

Randle averaged a career-high 16.1 points last season while also averaging 8.0 rebounds and playing all 82 games.

He has career averages of 13.5 points and 8.9 rebounds in 238 NBA games (182 starts). Randle was the seventh overall pick of the 2014 draft out of Kentucky.

New Orleans was hoping to re-sign Rondo, but he agreed to a one-year, $9 million deal with the Lakers on Monday. However, the Pelicans did add free agent point guard Elfrid Payton, formerly of the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic, on Sunday.

According to multiple reports Monday, Payton's deal is worth around $2.7 million over one year.

The No. 10 overall pick of the 2014 draft, Payton was traded from the Magic to the Suns in February. He averaged 12.7 points, 6.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game in 63 contests (all starts) last season, all right in line with his career average. —Field Level Media/Reuters