Lakers sending Julius Randle to foot specialist in Indiana

The Lakers took a risk in drafting former Kentucky forward Julius Randle with the seventh overall pick in the NBA draft.

While Randle was one of the top freshman in the NCAA, helping the Wildcats to the NCAA championship game before falling to the Connecticut Huskies, he may need to undergo foot surgery before he starts his NBA career.

The team is hopeful that Randle can start his rookie season without having a screw removed from his right foot, a remnant from a high school injury that required surgery.

To verify, the Lakers are sending Randle to Indiana on Wednesday to visit with foot specialist Dr. David Porter.

“For the next two or three days, we’re going to continue with the physical process,” said Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak on Monday. “Based on his performance and play last year through a full schedule, we don’t expect anything different to come up.”

Randle played 40 games at Kentucky as a freshman, averaging 15.0 points and 10.4 rebounds a game.

If the 6-foot-9 lefty undergoes surgery, he’ll miss the Lakers’ summer league in Las Vegas, which starts July 11. It’s unclear if surgery, should it prove necessary, would delay Randle’s availability in October for Lakers’ training camp.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.