New Orleans Pelicans: 3 goals for Julius Randle in 2018-19

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JULY 13: General Manager Dell Demps and Julius Randle #30 of the New Orleans Pelicans pose for a photo during a press conference on July 13, 2018 at the the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images. /

1. Increase playmaking duties and abilities

The final goal for Randle this season is to continue improving as a passer and creator for others. As mentioned earlier, he is a gifted passer for a big man and the Pelicans’ up-tempo system will allow him to handle the ball more and create for others.

While Randle’s assists decreased last season, we can look at his 2016-17 season to project his passing ability in his quasi-featured role in New Orleans. That season, he averaged 3.6 assists per game while playing 28.8 minutes per game, which translates to 4.5 assists per 36 minutes.

Last season, Randle averaged 3.5 assists per 36 minutes, which is still a strong number for his position. However, it’s really about the Pelicans’ offensive system and Randle’s projected increased role that bodes well for an increase to around four assists per game. With Randle handling the ball more in transition in New Orleans, he will be able to find shooters or cutters for open shots on a regular basis.

Randle has already shown the ability to pass out of the post or in transition, so with the ball in his hands more this upcoming season, he projects to be even more of a playmaker for his teammates. Given his aforementioned limited shooting, it will be important that he is surrounded by several quality shooters, potentially in the form of Darius Miller, E’Twuan Moore and/or Mirotic.

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With shooters around him, Randle will have plenty of options when bringing the ball up in transition off a rebound. Furthermore, Alvin Gentry wants his team to focus on creating early scoring opportunities each possession (dubbed “Gentry Ball” by Kumar), which Randle will have no issue in achieving in New Orleans given his skill-set and the supporting cast around him.

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