1. Julius Randle
This is the clear choice for a breakout candidate in New Orleans. Not only is Randle already coming off somewhat of a breakout season with the Lakers, but he is an ideal fit as a big man in the Pelicans’ system. Through a combination of his physicality, ball-handling and transition play, Randle should thrive alongside either Nikola Mirotic or Anthony Davis.
Towards the end of the 2017-18 season, Randle was downright dominant for the Lakers, averaging 19.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in February and 22.3 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists in March. Randle saw more playing time and was unleashed as a hybrid, athletic big that could run in transition.
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Randle was a very promising offensive player for the Lakers last season, as the team’s offense was 3.6 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor. He has the ability to bring the ball up the court off rebounds and find cutters and shooters in transition before the defense is set. Adding Randle and Payton to a team that already thrived in transition will make the Pelicans’ offense that much more difficult to stop on a nightly basis.
With Randle still just 23 years old, he has room to grow on both ends of the floor, mainly adding a consistent jump shot (even if just in the mid-range) and providing more consistent effort on defense. Randle has the tools to be a good defender (athleticism, ability to switch on the perimeter) and the hope should be that a system opening up opportunities on offense should keep him engaged on the defensive end. It also doesn’t hurt that with a player option for 2019-20, he could re-enter the free agency market as an unrestricted free agent.
Randle’s fit in the frontcourt is less straightforward, but perhaps more intriguing. Pair Randle with Davis and you get two athletic big men that can switch on the perimeter, hold their own defensively and thrive in transition. Randle would be able to handle the bulk of the physicality in the paint, while Davis can act as a “free safety” rim protector. If Davis continues to improve his 3-point shooting (he hit a career high 34 percent of such shots last season), Randle will have enough room to operate down low.
Pair Randle with Mirotic and you get a pairing that can thrive in transition, with Mirotic providing elite floor-spacing for Randle to operate in the post, while the two can switch defensively and run out in transition. With the Pelicans’ up-tempo system suiting Randle well, an increase in role and minutes should allow him to post the best season of his career and break out in the upcoming campaign, cementing himself as one of the best young bigs in the league.