It could not have been worse for Lakers fans, who watched their prized jewel in Julius Randle crumple to the floor in pain, suffering a broken tibia, something the Lakers have confirmed.
After watching Kobe Bryant go down to an Achilles injury, then Steve Nash succumbing to nerve issues, Bryant again going down with a fractured leg, Nash being forced to likely retire to due the injuries, and in the middle, every Laker on the 2013-14 roster missing at least one game due to injury, this is like a final death punch.
There is no positive to take away from such an injury. Watching a 19-year old kid in noticeably intense pain is hard to stomach. No player or person that young should have to be stretchered off the court like that is incredibly unfair.
However, as is the case, life goes on, and the Lakers now are faced with a tough situation. What this means for the immediate future of the team is uncertain and another article. Randle’s future is what is important, and the Lakers can take notes from the Philadelphia 76ers.
Daily Knicks
In the 2013 NBA Draft, the 76ers took a risk, drafting Nerlens Noel, who they knew would be forced to sit out many months. Instead of rushing him back in any capacity, Philly did the opposite, giving Noel the whole season off and bringing him along the following summer.
The result was a dominant, healthy looking Noel in the summer league. He continued that form into the preseason, and looks like the player that was highly touted going to Kentucky.
The early prognosis, but on rough Google searches and tweets, is that Randle is likely to miss somewhere between 3-6 months. The early projection has him back around February, the latter past the end of the season.
However, regardless of health, the Lakers should sit Randle for 2014-15.
The decision very well may be taken out of their hands. Randle may be forced out medically. However, as a 19-year old, he’s the brightest future the Lakers have.
Benching also serves the indirect result of tanking. While I won’t get into a pro/anti tanking argument, the Lakers aren’t playoff contenders this year. If they can’t make the playoffs, they need to bottom out to retain their pick, which is sent to Houston if it falls outside the top 5.
The result could be a pairing for the future, with Randle and possibly Karl Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein, or Jahlil Okafor – all centers – as possible selections.
Regardless, don’t risk it Lakers. Sit Julius and let him heal.