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The 2014 NBA draft netted the Los Angeles Lakers two new additions: former heralded freshman from the University of Kentucky, power forward Julius Randle (first round, seventh overall pick) and former University of Missouri point/shooting guard Jordan Clarkson (drafted by the Washington Wizards in the second round, 46th overall pick) for cash.
Not one NBA team drafted a finished product or complete player, but the Lakers accomplished their mission by adding talent to their roster. The 19-year old Randle is a good fit with L.A. despite rumors that he needs surgery on one of his feet; broken back in high school and into which he has had a screw inserted.
These are rumors that Randle himself quickly rebuffed in the weeks leading up to the draft. Apparently, his opinion is that there is a team doctor that thinks that the surgically repaired foot has not healed properly. Randle feels the rumors were floated by an unknown team in the hopes that he would fall out of the lottery.
They are odd rumors, considering the fact that Randle has played for almost a full regular season in both SEC and NCAA tournaments since his surgery. Even if they are true and surgery is eventually necessary, Randle is worth the risk. He wowed the Lakers in multiple workouts and his selection is a solid one.
Randle is 6′ 9″ and 248 lbs. He has a 7′ wingspan, an 8′ 9.5″ standing reach and a 35.5″ vertical jump. He played in 40 games for the Wildcats, averaging 17.5 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 71 percent from the free throw line. He logged 10.4 rebounds. The Lakers were in need of a long-term, low-post threat and in one year of Division I ball, Randle proved that he was one of the best scoring and rebounding forwards in college basketball.
The University of Kentucky alumn is an anomaly in today’s small-ball-pick-and-roll-spread-the-floor-three-point-shooting-NBA. With a prototype NBA body, he is an athletic, versatile power forward that can contribute right away. The former Wildcat can score with his back to the basket and has a decent face-up game.
Randle is an elite rebounder with an excellent combination of size, strength, quickness and agility. The biggest weakness in his game are turnovers (an average of 4.4 per game), his attacking of double and triple teams and the development of his off-hand. He is not an elite defender nor does he have a reliable jumper right now. But at 19-years old, the Lakers will make sure that he develops into a player that will cause fans to say: “You can’t handle Randle”.
Randle admits to being a fan of Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.
The Lakers were after a young point guard this year and they got a steal in the 6′ 5″, 196 lb. Jordan Clarkson. He performed well in multiple workouts while being trained by Drew Hanlen (www.PureSweatBasketball.com). Several people felt that Clarkson would be a mid-first round pick. Fortunately for the Lakers, he fell to the 46th-pick in the second round.
Clarkson has a 6′ 8″ wingspan, an 8″ 2″ standing reach and a 38.5″ vertical jump. He played in 35 games for the Tigers averaging 17.5 points per game, shooting 45-percent from the field, 83-percent from the free throw line and 28-percent from behind the arc. He had 3.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds.
The Missouri alumn is a solid pick-and-roll player who got to the rim in the half court and converted. He has good size for the position and he is good at scoring in transition. He attacks the rim, can see over the defense and can post-up smaller guards. Clarkson does need to improve his perimeter shooting, point guard skills, ball defense and to create at the NBA level.
The L.A. Lakers were able to use the NBA draft to acquire two solid building blocks which will make the team more competitive… now and in the future.
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