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Top 5 Players From 2014 NBA Draft

By Carter Johnson

Mar 4, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) drives for the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) in the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) drives for the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) in the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) moves in to score a basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
October 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) moves in to score a basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Julius Randle, Los Angeles Lakers

2014 Draft Selection: Round 1, No. 7 (LAL)

2015-16 Stats: 11.3 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.7 BPG, 0.8 SPG

Accolades: N/A

Unlike the forward who was selected before him, Randle was dominant in his sole season at the University of Kentucky, averaging 15.0 points and 10.4 rebounds a night while breaking the school record for double-doubles in one season by a freshman (24) and leading the Wildcats to the national championship game where they fell to the University of Connecticut.

Despite being arguably the third best player in the draft class behind Wiggins and Parker, Randle fell all the way to the Los Angeles Lakers at the seventh overall pick.

Because he lost his rookie season to a broken leg that he suffered in his NBA debut, we’ve got a small sample size of Randle — which is why he’s only fourth on this list. However, it’s already evident that Randle’s double-double capability has transferred over to the pros.

Randle is a matchup pariah in the post, possessing the quickness and speed of a small forward with the strength to finish often seen in centers. As best described by former teammate and NBA legend Kobe Bryant, he’s essentially “Lamar Odom in a Zach Randolph body.”

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    • Randle possesses unique versatility in his ability to put the ball on the floor at that size, even leading one-man fastbreaks for the Lakers at times. He’s a handful in the post as well, as he can face defenders up, blow by them or spin on them before either finishing through contact or above the rim.

    However, his bread and butter is still his work on the boards, where he brought down 10.2 rebounds a night — good for 10th best in the league — in his first full season.

    For all his skill, Randle’s two areas of weakness are significant ones. His motor and athletic ability have yet to transfer to the defensive end and he lacks a consistent shot to help him truly capitalize on his unique skill set.

    With new head coach Luke Walton in tow, Randle has already expressed a desire to play a role similar to the one Draymond Green fills for Walton’s former team in the Golden State Warriors. If he can work on his outside shot and slightly improve his passing ability, Randle may be able to achieve that and then some for this new-look Lakers team.

    Next: No. 3