Lakers depth chart breakdown: Julius Randle

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Mark Medina

Lakers’ top draft pick Julius Randle said he can’t wait to become a teammate of Kobe Bryant. (Brad Graverson / Staff Photographer)

Below is the seventh in a series previewing the story lines surrounding each player on the Lakers’ roster for the 2014-15 season. This post focuses on Lakers forward Julius Randle.

1. Will Julius Randle climb up the Lakers’ pecking order?
The Lakers may have taken a significant step with their rebuilding process by drafting Randle. But it does not appear the Lakers are giving him the keys to the Ferrari just yet. Lakers coach Byron Scott said three weeks ago that he is leaning toward starting Carlos Boozer at power forward over Randle because of Boozer’s experience as a 12-year NBA veteran.

Scott’s current preference could help him garner support among his most experienced players. But Scott’s pecking order might also provide a carrot for the younger ones, including Randle, to work harder to prove their coach wrong. Randle demonstrated his thirst for self-improvement, both in his lone season at University of Kentucky and at his introductory press conference with the Lakers. But how much and how quickly will that carry over into the NBA?
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Julius Randle to see foot specialist in Indiana

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Mark Medina

Lakers’ top draft pick Julius Randle said he can’t wait to become a teammate of Kobe Bryant. (Brad Graverson / Staff Photographer)

In what the Lakers say serves as a cautionary measure, rookie forward Julius Randle will see foot specialist Dr. David Porter in Indiana on Wednesday to make sure that his right foot does not need surgery.

Randle’s plans were first reported in today’s editions of the Los Angeles Newspaper Group, but it was not clear which doctor he was seeing. According to league sources familiar with his itinerary, Randle saw two different doctors on Monday prior to his Lakers’ introductory press conference. He is spending Tuesday traveling to Indiana.

The Lakers anticipate receiving the results either late Wednesday or early Thursday, but they do not anticipate Randle will need surgery to treat his right foot after a pin was incorrectly placed there after he broke it while playing for his Dallas-area high school.

Despite his injury, Randle averaged a nation-leading 24 double-doubles for the Wildcats and played in all 40 games last season. Randle said he “plans to play” in the Las Vegas Summer league from July 11-21.

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

Lakers don’t expect Julius Randle to have surgery; will know officially later this week

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Mark Medina

“Kentucky forward Julius Randle, reacts after being selected seventh overall by the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2014 NBA draft, Thursday, June 26, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) “

Julius Randle showed up late on his first day of work with the Lakers, but the reasons had nothing to do with sleeping in, staying stuck in traffic or doing anything negligent.

It had everything to do with Randle visiting two different doctors on Monday both to have a physical and further assess whether his right foot needs surgery. Then, Randle arrived about a half hour late at the Lakers’ facility in El Segundo for his introductory press conference, speaking glowingly about the Lakers’ drafting him seventh overall and teaming up with Kobe Bryant. But Randle will hardly have much time to bask in that attention. He plans to fly to Indianapolis on Tuesday where he will visit another doctor, according to sources familiar with Randle’s itinerary.

Although they will not have full clarity until the end of this week, the Lakers do not expect Randle will need surgery to treat a right foot after a pin was incorrectly placed there when he broke it while playing for his Dallas-area high school.

“Right now, based on his performance and his play last year through a full schedule,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said, “we don’t expect anything different to come up.”

The Lakers expressed similar optimism following the NBA Draft last week, but Randle had noted he would have more clarity when he visits a series of doctors to determine his rehab. Still, Randle averaged a league-leading 24 double doubles for the University of Kentucky and played in all 40 games last season. Because of that Randle said he “plans to play” in the Las Vegas Summer league from July 11-21.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

NBA Draft: Julius Randle shares childhood photo wearing Kobe Bryant’s jersey

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Mark Medina

Even before playing in an actual NBA game, Julius Randle passed a rookie test that has nothing to do with a vertical jump or an individual workout. It has everything to do with starting off on the right foot with a key colleague.

With the Lakers selecting him with the seventh overall pick in the NBA Draft, Randle wasted no time gushing about Kobe Bryant. So much that Randle quickly posted a childhood photo of himself on Instagram in which he is wearing Bryant’s former No. 8 jersey.

“It’s going to be amazing. I grew up a huge fan of Kobe. He was my idol growing up as a player,” Randle said on a conference call with reporters. “Now I have a chance to pick his brain and learn a lot from him. I couldn’t ask for a better situation.”

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NBA Draft: Julius Randle says he may have surgery on his right foot

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Mark Medina

“Julius Randle of University of Kentucky is interviewed by the media after a pre-draft workout at the Lakers gym in El Segundo, CA. Tuesday June 17, 2014. (Thomas R. Cordova-Daily Breeze/Press-Telegram)”

Amid his excitement over playing for his favorite team (Lakers) and teaming up with his childhood idol (Kobe Bryant), Kentucky forward Julius Randle offered some sobering news.

It turns out Randle may miss some time this offseason stemmed from an injury in his right foot.

“They might want to do a surgery,” Randle said of a pending meeting with the Lakers’ training staff. “But I honestly don’t know what to expect. I know if I do a surgery, I’ll be ready before the start of training camp. But it’s honestly up to the team doctor and see if it’ll be good for me and what the risk is.”
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NBA Draft: NBA TV analyst Grant Hill assesses Lakers’ draft needs

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Mark Medina

In this Jan. 13, 2014, file photo, Kansas center Joel Embiid (21) drives past Iowa State forward Georges Niang during an NCAA college basketball game in Ames, Iowa. Embiid didn’t pick up a basketball until a few years ago, when a friend informed him that very few 7-footers succeed in soccer. A couple months later, Embiid was lured to a basketball camp in the Cameroon capital of Yaounde run by Timberwolves forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, one of just two players from Cameroon to have played in the NBA. (Charlie Neibergall/The Associated Press File)

Below is a recent interview with NBA TV analyst Grant Hill, who provided one of many expert voices surrounding who the Lakers should pick with the seventh pick of the 2014 NBA Draft on Thursday.

When you look at who might be available in the seventh slot, who would best help the Lakers?

Hill: “Seven is a tough spot. Obviously you don’t know what’s going to happen with Joel Embiid and the situation there with him having surgery due to a stress fracture. Seven is tough because you don’t know for sure. You can model things out. But typically things never go according to plan. The Lakers, I think it depends on what ultimately their goal and objective is. Are they trying to retool quickly and make one last run at it when Kobe Bryant is there or are they preparing for the future? I think depending on what they’re trying to do depends on how they’re trying to approach it. I’m sure they’re still trying to game plan. They haven’t decided who’s going to coach their team. But in reality, they can get a good player. At seven, you can get a player who is a rotation player and a player that can have an impact and be a part of the future. Exactly who that is, I can’t tell you. I don’t know. They have a lot of needs.

What’s going to happen with Steve Nash? Is Nash going to play and is he going to be healthy? What are they going to re-sign Pau Gasol? There’s a lot of decisions that need to be made for this franchise. They can say, ‘We want to fill a need or just find the best available player we can get at seven.’ There’s a lot of factors that I think are involved with the Lakers.

One of the possibilities entails the Lakers trying to upgrade at point guard, getting someone such as Dante Exum and Marcus Smart if they’re available, so they could have Nash play a mentorship role off the bench partly because of his back. Playing with Steve, how do you think that idea would play out?

Hill: “If those two guys are there at seven, you have to entertain the possibility of drafting them and having a guy like Nash. He helped Goran Dragic [in Phoenix]. Having played with both of those guys in Goran’s first year, Steve was still playing and playing at a high level. He was able to learn from watching and listening. Steve may not be able to go out and play like he could play back in 2007 and 2008. But his intellect and understanding of the game and him being there as a mentor would be huge.

It’s maybe even more powerful when he’s playing. When he’s playing, he’s competing. Those guys are different players than Steve in terms of style. Marcus is more of a power point guard and has good size and strength and good toughness. Dante, from what I’ve seen, is more of a taller guard and more athletic. But they’re both very talented and very skilled. You can’t help but learn from having a Steve Nash around. That could be a good strategy for the Lakers.”
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NBA Draft, Lakers chat: Talking prospects, Kobe Bryant, coaching search

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Mark Medina

Kobe Bryant laughs off Jurgen Klinnsman’s criticism on contract extension

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Tag Archives: Julius Randle

Lakers depth chart breakdown: Julius Randle

Julius Randle to see foot specialist in Indiana

Lakers don’t expect Julius Randle to have surgery; will know officially later this week

NBA Draft: Julius Randle shares childhood photo wearing Kobe Bryant’s jersey

NBA Draft: Julius Randle says he may have surgery on his right foot

NBA Draft: NBA TV analyst Grant Hill assesses Lakers’ draft needs

NBA Draft, Lakers chat: Talking prospects, Kobe Bryant, coaching search