NBA News Roundup, Monday, June 17th: Kyrie Irving to the Lakers remains a possibility, Julius Randle could leave Pelicans and more

The 2019 offseason is quickly approaching and it is gearing up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. The upcoming free agent class is perhaps the best in NBA history, as the likes of Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler and Kevin Durant will all be up for grabs.

Teams such as the Lakers, Thunder, and Rockets are also attempting to make big moves as they look to build a roster that can compete during the 2019/20 season. So, here are all the latest NBA rumours and news you need to know for June 17th:

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Fred VanVleet hopes Kawhi Leonard will remain with the Raptors

Both Leonard and VanVleet played important roles in the Raptors' 2019 Championship win

The Toronto Raptors are still celebrating winning their first ever Championship, although Kawhi Leonard's future continues to hang over the team. The Finals MVP is about to hit unrestricted free agency, and Fred VanVleet has spoken of his desire for Leonard to remain in Toronto:

I think for us (Raptors), there is nothing more that we can do. We've done it, the city, this franchise, the coaches, my teammates - we've done our job. The best way to recruit somebody is to just be yourself over the course of the year and I would assume that he knows what is here, what makes this place special.

If it's enough then it's enough. If it's not then it's not. We would all love for him to be back, if he's not we will move on from there. It's not the biggest deal in the world - he came here, did what he was supposed to do. So he brought this city a championship, I think he has earned his freedom and career to do what he wants, we'll all respect and admire him.

During the 2019 postseason, Leonard averaged 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.

Kyrie Irving could still join the Lakers

Kyrie Irving is expected to leave the Boston Celtics this summer

Reports in recent days have suggested that Kyrie Irving's move to the Brooklyn Nets is imminent, although The Athletic's Sam Amick is reporting that Irving could still head to the Lakers:

Could it be Kyrie Irving, whose frustration with the Celtics experience has been well chronicled and who has been tied to the Brooklyn Nets in recent days? It certainly matters that the two former Cavs co-stars reconciled back in January, when our Joe Vardon detailed the apology phone call heard 'round the basketball world.

What's more, it was also clear back then that James was open to the possibility of a reunion. Just days before the Davis deal was done, a source close to James indicated some optimism that - Nets noise be darned - Irving was still in play for the Lakers.

Irving has spent the past two seasons with the Celtics, although he has given no indications that he will remain in Boston this summer.

Julius Randle to decline $9 million option with Pelicans

After opting out of the final year of his deal, Julius Randle's future in New Orleans is in serious doubt

After joining the New Orleans Pelicans from the Los Angeles Lakers last summer, Julius Randle was among the team's top performers. The 24-year-old averaged a career-high 21.4 points per game, while also averaging 8.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. However, Shams Charania of The Athletic is reporting that Randle will enter free agency later this month:

Pelicans‘ Julius Randle is not picking up his $9M player option for next season and will enter unrestricted free agency, league sources tell the Athletic. Randle is coming off his best NBA season (21.4 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 34.4 percent from 3-point range on 195 attempts).

Randle is likely to attract interest around the NBA, although the Pelicans will be hopeful of negotiating a long-term deal for such a key performer.