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With the Lakers overloaded in the front court, Julius Randle becomes an interesting topic of discussion. Due for a pay raise at the beginning of the next summer, the Lakers will have to make the decision to either keep him or let him test our free agency.
With a contract year coming up, Magic Johnson expects Julius Randle to have a breakout year next season.
In an interview with Spectrum SportsNet, Johnson praised Randle’s game and potential:
“I think Julius Randle is going to have a breakout season. The league better watch out. This guy has all the athletic abilities. Now he is working on his shot. He is working on his right hand. And he has already worked on his body.”
This is a positive sign for those who want Randle to remain a Laker. The high praise from Magic sure makes it seem like he’s a fan of Randle.
The devil’s advocate side could say this is a great job of building up Randle’s value before they deal him this off-season. Earlier this off-season, Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report reported that the Lakers were concerned about various aspects of Randle and Russell’s game.
“Lakers head coach Luke Walton entered the season asking Russell to be less of a know-it-all and more of a leader for the group, while he hoped Randle would emulate Draymond Green in using every perceived slight as motivation.”
Randle finished last season with a career in scoring and assists at 13.2 points and 3.6 assists per game. He also grabbed 8.6 rebounds. If you need any proof that Randle is on his way to dominating the NBA next season, look at his summer workout results.
