Lakers Draft News: Lakers draft Julius Randle with 7th pick

With the 7th pick in tonight’s NBA Draft, the Lakers selected Kentucky big man Julius Randle, adding a marquee big man to their front line.

Randle impressed the Lakers with multiple workouts, proving his jump shot was more advanced than scouts feared. With his huge size and dominating presence, Randle is considered one of the prospects most able to make an instant impact. Given Kobe Bryant‘s plea to win-now, this pick signifies the Lakers are listening.

Randle battled rumors of a foot injury that would reportedly sideline him post-draft, ruling him out for the summer league and off-season leading up to the draft. However, the Kentucky big man proved to scouts and GMs that his foot was nothing to worry about.  His bully-ball style has drawn him comparisons to Zach Randolph, which would be a great get for the Lakers.

The Lakers may not be done, with the majority of the draft still in front of them and an empty roster to fill. With a roster needing a complete overhaul, the Lakers opted to use the draft pick instead of making one of the rumored deals that involved their 7th pick. With the opportunity to add more draft picks by using the league-allocated $3 million to use as cash considerations in trades, the Lakers could still be making moves tonight.

Let us know below what you think of the pick down below!