Lakers rookie Julius Randle is one to watch this season

Julius Randle update, No. 27B …

The most-watched Lakers player will be Kobe Bryant, but the second-most tracked will be the rookie from Kentucky, the one claimed with the seventh overall pick in June.

His importance can’t be overstated enough because the Lakers lose their first-round pick next year to Phoenix unless they’re really, really bad (among the NBA’s bottom five records) and they owe Orlando their first-rounder in 2017. The Lakers do hold Houston’s first-rounder next season because of the Jeremy Lin trade.

Keeping in mind that Randle’s still a teenager for another month, he looked astray early in exhibition play, scared to shoot his mid-range jumper, turnover-prone and a foul-collecting vacuum.

He looked different the last two exhibitions, showing more confidence in his shot, eagerly (and successfully) taking the ball coast to coast a number of times after defensive rebounds and averaging 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds against Portland and Sacramento.

“He’s really starting to learn. He’s understanding what we need to do on both ends of the floor,” said Lakers Coach Byron Scott. “Still at times I think he gets a little tired and then when he gets tired, he loses focus. From game one of the preseason to this [final] game, he’s definitely improved and he’s got a bright future.”

Bryant, a rookie in 1996, thinks he knows the key to Randle’s future.

“Just a face-up jump shot,” Bryant said.

Opponents are backing off Randle, daring him to shoot, but he can make defenders more honest if he masters the mid-range. And he could also dribble past them if they defended too closely.

“I think that’s the natural progression for him … and he’s a fantastic passer and ballhandler,” Bryant said.

Randle earned some unkind words from DeMarcus Cousins when he elbowed Kings forward Rudy Gay in the jaw while dribbling downcourt Friday. Gay left the game and Randle heard about it for a bit from Cousins, who attended Kentucky a few years before Randle.

“It wasn’t anything intentional,” Randle said. “I think it was just the kind of a thing where I was bringing the ball up the court, he kind of reached and I just kind of crossed over and it was a natural movement for me to get my arm up,” Randle said. “Honestly, I didn’t even feel it. I didn’t even know I hit him.”

How about Clarkson?

Less is known about the Lakers’ other rookie, second-round draft pick Jordan Clarkson, because he missed almost two weeks because of a strained calf.

But with Steve Nash sidelined the whole season, the point guard will get some minutes, ready or not. He has at least one vote of confidence despite being drafted 46th overall after the Lakers paid $1.8 million to purchase the pick from Washington.

“He looks great,” Bryant said. “I’m sure coach will throw him in there and let him sink or swim a little bit. But he really seems unaffected by the hype of being in the NBA. He seems like a very poised and calm kid.”

Final cuts

The Lakers waived Jabari Brown and Roscoe Smith, bringing their roster down to the NBA-maximum 15 players. Guards Ronnie Price and Wayne Ellington made the team with contracts that don’t become fully guaranteed until early January.