Mitch Kupchak says rookie Julius Randle will need to earn his time

The Lakers suffered through a miserable 2013-14 season, going 27-55, leading to the drafting of Kentucky power forward Julius Randle with the seventh overall pick.

Randle, averaging 15.0 points and 10.4 rebounds a game, helped lead the Wildcats to the NCAA championship game as a freshman (ultimately falling to Connecticut).

At a news conference Friday, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak tried to temper expectations for the heralded rookie.

“Julius is still 19 years old,” Kupchak said. “You wouldn’t know that by looking at him, because he’s really a well-developed, big, strong, athletic kid. Over the years, I’ve never looked at a rookie and said, ‘Hey, this guy’s gonna bring us to the top.’ It doesn’t do any good to have high expectations.”

Kupchak’s comments extended to rookie guard Jordan Clarkson (46th overall selection), acquired on draft night from the Washington Wizards.

“I’m hopeful that, during the course of the season and training camp, they’ll both continue to improve, stay healthy, work hard,” Kupchak said. “And it may be where it’s three steps forward, two steps back; two steps forward, one step back. I don’t expect either rookie to hit the ground running and put together 82 great games.”

Randle has the size to play power forward but, through summer league and workouts with the Lakers, has shown an ability to handle the ball.

“He’s got super quick feet and I think if there’s one thing you didn’t see much at Kentucky, as you do watching him every day, is that he’s got really gifted quickness, first step, [and] he loves contact,” Kupchak said.

Could Randle play small forward in the NBA? Kupchak wouldn’t commit to the notion, although he did say that Randle wouldn’t be a liability defensively at the three.

“He can defend small forwards. Do I see him right now as the prototypical small forward? Probably not,” Kupchak said. “But I could see him bringing the ball up the court. I could see him seeing a gap, getting a step on a guy and making a play -- whether it’s finishing or finding somebody that’s open. Those are ball-handling skills that you wouldn’t see power forwards have very often.”

The Lakers are notably deep at power forward with Carlos Boozer, Ryan Kelly, Ed Davis, Jordan Hill (who may primarily play center) and Randle.

Boozer was cut loose by the Chicago Bulls via amnesty waivers. The Lakers committed $3.3 million in cap room to claim the veteran -- providing a cushion for Randle to learn the game without overextending himself as a rookie.

“We didn’t decide, ‘Well, [Randle isn’t] going to help us this year, let’s get a veteran,’” Kupchak said. “We got [Boozer] to help us win games this year. Whatever Julius gets, he’s going to have to earn.”

Kupchak noted that at times, the Lakers may play Randle and Boozer together in the front court.

“We’re going to have to go small at certain times this season. We’re not going to have a lot of choices,” he said.

Long term, the Lakers are excited about Randle’s future, but initially, he’ll need to learn the NBA game.

“There are going to be moments when he plays just great,” Kupchak said. “And then there are going to be moments when, we have a rebound, bring the ball down the court -- offensive charge, defensive foul. [He might] drop his head, get frustrated [and] get a technical foul.”

The Lakers are hoping Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash regain their form after injury-plagued seasons. They’ll rely on veterans like Jeremy Lin, Nick Young, Hill and Boozer to help carry the team.

Kupchak won’t count on Randle breaking out early, but if the 19-year-old can quickly acclimate to the league, the Lakers as a team may take a step forward after a dismal season.

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