NBA Draft Rumors: Julius Randle won’t fall lower than No. 13
At one point, former Kentucky Wildcats’ power forward Julius Randle looked a sure-fire top pick and was considered to be in a group with elite prospects like former Kansas Jayhawks’ center Joel Embiid, his Kansas teammate, forward Andrew Wiggins, former Duke Blue Devils’ forward Jabari Parker and Australian point guard Dante Exum.
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Randle has had different parts of his game criticized and as news surrounded his foot and the potential need for surgery (which Randle has denied) has continued to surface, it knows seems possible, perhaps even probable Randle could fall out of the top 10. If that does indeed happen, plenty of teams will be pleased, especially those who hold two lottery picks, the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic because they are more likely to take a player who could be a risk with their second pick.
Yannis Koutroupis of Basketball Insiders doesn’t believe Randle will fall any lower than 13 and won’t go any lower than 12 if the Magic take a point guard with the fourth-overall pick.
"RyanAssuming his foot really could require surgery, what is Julius Randle’s floor, in terms of where he goes in the draft?Yannis KoutroupisI don’t think he falls past the Orlando Magic with their second first round pick, assuming that they go with a point guard at four. If they don’t and need at point guard at 12, Minnesota happily takes him at 13."
Randle is ranked as the draft’s fourth-best prospect according by 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 while shooting 50.0% from the field and 70.6% from the charity stripe.