NBA Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers Star Julius Randle Becoming Golden State Warriors Star Draymond Green

NBA rumors are swirling around Julius Randle. Now that Kobe Bryant has decided to retire from professional basketball, there will be a new era for the Los Angeles Lakers. Young players like Julius Randle are now going to be taking over one of the most storied franchises in all of sports. According to the Orange County Register, the former Kentucky Wildcats star is excited about becoming the next Draymond Green, the Swiss Army knife for the Golden State Warriors.

With Shaquille O’Neal now a broadcaster, Kobe Bryant was the last remaining Los Angeles Lakers legend in the NBA. He has decided to walk away from the game after spending two decades dominating foes and teammates alike. Considering how much that he has done for the franchise, the void left by Bryant will definitely be felt by all. The Lakers will sink further and further into the rebuilding phase next season.

In the place of Kobe Bryant will be D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle. Jordan Clarkson is normally listed as a building block, but there is a chance that he might leave the Los Angeles Lakers as a restricted free agent this summer. Larry Nance Jr. might become one of those building blocks if he continues to develop. Los Angeles also has a potential top three pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, so that could bring another potential star as well.

Julius Randle needs to become an All Star if the Los Angeles Lakers hope to compete for an NBA Championship again. The 6’9? power forward has potential to average more than 20 points, ten rebounds and five assists a game. He’s that talented. With Kobe Bryant out of the way and management fully committed to rebuilding, Randle will get a lot more opportunities, so his season averages should start getting closer to those figures.

Toward the end of last season, then Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott started trying out Julius Randle in the role of play maker. Many were under the impression that he has the versatility to be utilized in much the same way that Lamar Odom was once used by the Lakers. Odom was a 6’10” forward who was able to handle the ball as well as most point guards. That created a lot of mismatches.

It will be up to Luke Walton to figure out how to turn Julius Randle into more of a play maker. The Golden State Warriors assistant coach has officially signed a contract to become the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. He will be joining the team once the Warriors are done with the NBA Playoffs. Long considered as a brilliant basketball mind, Walton will definitely need to figure out the best way to use Randle.

A template that Luke Walton can use is Draymond Green. He’s one of the most versatile players in the entire NBA. Despite being just 6’7?, 230 pounds, Green has been utilized as a point forward and as the lone interior player. The former Michigan State Spartans star can also defend all five positions. Stephen Curry might be the star of the Golden State Warriors, but Green is just as important to the team’s success as Curry.

There’s a lot of work ahead for Julius Randle. He still has the chance to become a superstar in the NBA. Luke Walton also has a chance to become a superstar coach in the National Basketball Association. The two of them are going to need one another. If things work out between Walton and Randle, then the entire Los Angeles Lakers franchise will benefit tremendously. The future is once again bright.