Heading into his rookie year with the Los Angeles Lakers, Julius Randle will likely get playing time right out of the gate. GM Mitch Kupchak alluded to Randle getting time on the floor next season during the introductory press conference with the team on Monday, according to Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News:
Mitch on Julius: "He's going to get minutes, not just because we need players. But he'll earn it."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) June 30, 2014
With a lot of uncertainty surrounding the immediate future of the team, Randle could have a chance to be a starter in the frontcourt next season. Obviously, the Lakers brass will do everything within their power to bring in LeBron James and or Carmelo Anthony and that could change Randle’s role on the team, but it seems clear that he will get considerable minutes in his first year in Los Angeles.
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During his freshman year with the University of Kentucky, Randle averaged 15.0 points and 10.4 rebounds per game along with shooting 50.1 percent from the floor. Randle was one of the main reasons the Wildcats were able to make their run to the National Championship game against the University of Connecticut.
Unfortunately for Randle, Kentucky lost to UConn a few months ago, but the freshman made enough of an impression to merit being a lottery pick in this year’s NBA draft. Randle turned a lot of heads during his individual workout with the Lakers leading toward the franchise rolling the dice on the 19-year-old with the seventh overall pick last week.
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