I'd flip Skal for Randle pretty easily and I think that's a deal the Lakers would actually be interested in. They clearly (stupidly) don't believe he's apart of their future and won't want to pay him with their pursuit of 2 big FA's. Skal gives them a cost-controlled big for another 2 years that doesn't hamper their cap room, gives them an upside guy and they actually get something back for Randle.
Dude is just a flat awesome fit with our current core and fits well with the high-post Joerger offense. He's a great passer and he starts a lot of his sets from there anyway. And he's really upped his offensive game this year in all facets and is developing into a really good lead or 2nd option type. I think he's an all-star waiting to happen in the right situation and with the right minutes.
Fox
Bogdan/ Buddy
Doncic(Porter)
Randle
WCS
That's a core I'd believe could be a damn good playoff team. Works so nicely in the new NBA game and absolutely a TON of offensive upside. So much playmaking and passing ability from all 5 spots. Fill out the team with a bunch of P.J Tucker/Mbah a Moute types and we'd be cooking with fire.
I wouldn't trade Skal for Chriss, but I would trade him for Randle. I think Chriss has some talent, but I don't like his body language at times, and I don't think, at least right now, he's as much of a team player that I would like. On the other hand, I do think Randle is a team player, and while he doesn't fit the new image of a modern NBA PF, he is a very skilled player in the sense that he has good handles for a big man, he's a very good rebounder, something we need, and he's a very good passer. His weakness of course is his three pt shot where he's only shooting 25% for his career. But hey, Chriss is only shooting 29% from the three. Randle is superior in every other aspect of the game to Chriss. He's averaging more points, grabbing more rebounds and shooting a far better average overall. Randle 55%, Chriss 40%. I'm not trying to denigrate Chriss, I just happen to like Randle more. And hey, you can't have too many Kentucky players.