Lakers: Midseason Grades for Each Player

Byron Scott’s decision to demote both Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell (we’ll get to him quite soon) from the starting lineup is the unforgettable and yet-to-be-rectified misstep of this season for the Lakers. Randle came into this season with the billing as the future of the frontcourt in Los Angeles and with a ton of optimism surrounding him after he suffered a season-ending injury in his first ever NBA game last season.

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The decision was short-sighted and geared toward putting the team in the best position to win now. While many will point to the fact that it gave Larry Nance Jr. the chance to emerge, that line of thought dismisses the fact that Nance comes into the league this season with far more college experience that Randle and, thus, a more polished, NBA-ready game. In short, it plays into the lack of vision by Scott in making such a decision.

Even still, the promise that Randle has shown throughout the season has been refreshing. While he clearly needs a better offensive system (again, thanks to Scott) that doesn’t allow him to press quite as hard with the ball in his hands, his talent on that end of the floor is undeniable. Equally undeniable is his admirable veracity when attacking the boards. He deserves a favorable grade, but one that could’ve been even more favorable if he were given a legitimate opportunity to develop rather than the head coach largely abandoning those exploits to chase a hopeless course for this season.

Next: D'Angelo Russell