Los Angeles Lakers may name Julius Randle starter

The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t held their training camp yet, but rookie power forward Julius Randle may already be entrenched as a starter. Okay, maybe that’s going a little far but it seems as if the Lakers are ready to thrust him into the starting lineup.

More from Los Angeles Lakers

• NBA rumors: Hawks trade candidate, Sixers miss out, Lakers almost lose Reaves
• Predicting NBA’s Christmas Day Schedule: Lakers, Warriors highlight slate of postseason rematches
• Bronny James collapses at practice, taken to ICU with cardiac arrest
• NBA Rumors: Lakers nearing another savvy minimum signing
• Lakers projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season

Speaking during his introductory press conference, newly minted Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott suggested that it’s very possible Julius Randle may be in the starting lineup. He wouldn’t give a date as to when that might happen, though suggested that if he’s out outplay the Lakers other forwards, he certainly has a shot.

While that may normally seem difficult, it’s not as if Julius Randle is going up against some elite competition. Sure, there is the recent signing of Carlos Boozer which may prove to be a problem, but the former Duke product is a woeful defender and may find himself spending more time on the bench than he realizes.

Outside of Boozer there is Jordan Hill, Ryan Kelly, Robert Sacre and Ed Davis. That’s not exactly a murderer’s row of talent that Julius Randle will have to fight through and considering he’s expected to be the Lakers next big thing, do you really let him flounder on the bench in favor of those previously mentioned?

So while it’s possible that Julius Randle may not open the season as a starter, it seems rather likely that he’ll be in the starting lineup at some point this season – sooner than later if he plays well.