2014 NBA Draft: Julius Randle Drops To Tenth Place After Foot Injury Rumor Confirmed! Former Kentucky Wildcat Claims He Needs No Surgery!
Julius Randle was one of the top three college prospects last year, which would translate to him being a top prospect in the NBA Draft. However, a foot injury in high school may bring him down.
Randle chose to play his lone season in Kentucky and he was a dominating inside force, averaging a double-double. That would usually guarantee a top five placing, but because of the tremendous talent and the fact that he had a screw inserted in his foot, he can go down at 10.
Randle refuted the reports. From ESPN: "My foot is fine. Everybody has their opinion on what they should do. But I'm pain-free. No pain before, during or after. I'm fine. [Surgery has] never been considered. I've met with my own doctor and talked to specialists, some of the best doctors in the world, and they said they wouldn't do anything with it."
However, an NBA executive confided: "This is an issue. It didn't heal right."
Chad Ford, ESPN NBA draft expert said Randle can perform early, but it might be an issue down the road: "I heard his workouts have all been good. There's nothing wrong, in the short term with his foot. Teams are worried about the placement of a screw in his foot and think it could turn into a long-term issue. The talk about surgery is as a preventive measure. However, some teams have more issues than other with his foot. I think he's a strong possibility in LA. Him or Marcus Smart."
Randle worked out with the LA Lakers, a team that needs almost everything given their bare roster. They can surely take the best player available. Unless there is a shocker and Dante Exum slips to 7, Randle would definitely be a choice for the Lakers.
But the foot injury would change everything. If LA passes, Sacramento and Charlotte are stacked at his position and he might slip to Philadelphia's second lottery pick at 10th.
ESPN mock draft 8.0 has this: "If the Sixers go with a wing early, then I think they go big here if they can. There are also scenarios where Randle could slide now that it's known he has a foot issue. Landing Randle would be a huge coup for the team if they believe his foot won't be a long-term issue. He would be the perfect complement to Nerlens Noel on the front line and give them a big man who can run the floor and command a double-team in the paint. A combo of Michael Carter-Williams, Nerlens Noel, Andrew Wiggins and Julius Randle would be a formidable young core going forward."