NBA Draft Rumors 2014: Los Angeles Lakers eyeing Julius Randle?
The Los Angeles Lakers rarely pick in the lottery so they are hoping to strike gold with the seventh-overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
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Many believe the Lakers have eyes for a guard like former Oklahoma State Cowboys’ point guard Marcus Smart and Australian point guard Dante Exum, but there is a good chance neither will be available when the Lakers go on the clock. However, one player that could fall to seven is former Kentucky Wildcats’ power forward Julius Randle.
Many believe that Randle has been overlooked throughout the process and Jabari Davis of Basketball Insiders sees him as a nice fit with the Lakers (of course that is contingent on what other pieces they can add).
"Putting guys like Ariza, Vasquez, and potentially a young power forward like Julius Randle (if he were to dip slightly in the draft) next to a returning Bryant would certainly be an intriguing start,’but Kupchak and Buss would be far from done this summer. Although we shouldn’t expect quite the ‘rent-a-roster’ that took the floor this season, even if the Lakers are able to land a couple of the players mentioned, the front office is still expected to look to retain some of the current crop of players in order to complete the roster. Reserve big man Robest Sacre is the only player with a guaranteed contract beyond Bryant and Nash. Things remain uncertain regarding Pau Gasol’s future, as there have been no updates beyond the reports that surfaced last month claiming he would consider the Grizzlies, Bulls, Spurs and Lakers when deciding where to play next season."
Randle is ranked as the draft’s fourth-best prospect according to Jonathan Givony of Draft Express. Randle, who measured in at 6’9″ and 250 pounds with a wingspan of 7’0″ at the NBA’s Scouting Combine, put up 15.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.