The Los Angeles Lakers came into the season with some reasonable optimism and much of that surrounded the team’s first-round pick, Julius Randle. Unfortunately, Randle was lost for the season with a broken fibula in the season opener against the Houston Rockets.
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Randle has been hard at work doing rehab since, and according to Bill Oram of the Orange County Register, will be ready to go in summer league:
Julius Randle was at the facility working out today. Scott says he will “definitely” be able to go in summer league.
— Bill Oram (@billoram) February 21, 2015
This will be an important step to Randle’s progression as summer league will mark his first competitive games in an extended period of time. Seeing how Randle has progressed physically as well as mentally will be very key in judging the future of the Lakers.
The Lakers look at Randle as one of their building blocks of the future and he missed out on a chance to really develop this season. Summer League will give Randle a chance to get back on the court and test himself, as well as develop chemistry presumably with Jordan Clarkson as well as whoever the Lakers wind up selecting in the upcoming draft.
Even though it was terrible that Randle was lost so early in the season, the fact that the injury happened early means that Randle will be ready to go much earlier. By the time training camp rolls around, Randle will be full strength and hopefully will be able to give the Lakers a glimpse into their present and future.
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