Julius Randle On the Lakers; 4 Reasons to be Excited by the Selection

Wonderful talent/ a traditional Power Forward

Of course, all the loyalty and luck in the world couldn’t ignite a front office’s interest unless that player had at least a good deal of talent. Again, how fortunate are we that Randle can bundle all of these attributes into one raw, yet refined package? With arguably the strongest motor in the draft, the 6’9 workhorse majestically combines his power, skill and athleticism into a game worthy of a starting role in the NBA. Although concerns have been raised regarding his over-reliance on his left hand and his size in relation to dominant NBA PF’s, his astute P&R game, as well as his dominance on the offensive and defensive boards are sure to make him a force to be reckoned with in the league.

His face up game is certainly something to be admired and one cannot overlook his ability at knocking down mid-range jumpers. Personally, I believe that people are also severely underestimating his athleticism.  A few eyebrows were raised after he clocked a max. vertical of 35.5 at the Draft Combine, but it’s his use of such athletic ability that enables him to bully defenders in the low post and create fine looks for himself across the D.

Now this isn’t a scouting report (which is also available here at LSL), but questions regarding his size and versatility are often asked. However, with the right tutoring and appropriate observation, it would be hard to deny that Randle has one of the highest ceilings of all the frontcourt players in the draft.