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When the Los Angeles Lakers selected with the seventh overall pick in this year s draft,聽the聽immediate聽thought聽was that聽he聽would be the team s聽starting power forward, but聽could the聽addition of alter those plans? This is the question that could be lingering all through training camp as both players could聽play聽themselves into that role. That said, this competition could prove to be beneficial to each player and most importantly the team. Boozer is coming off arguably his worst season in his career with the Chicago Bulls with his lowest聽averages in聽points (13.7) and rebounds (8.3) since the 2003-04 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and posted his worst career聽field goal percentage (45.6). His struggles聽on both ends of the court became more evident as the season wore on, which resulted in head coach limiting his minutes and going with instead. Needless to say, the 32-year-old will be motivated to revitalize his career with the Lakers, and even went as a far as stating at his introductory press conference that he absolutely expects to be a starter this season. After he was picked up by Los Angeles,聽Boozer knew immediately that he would have stiff competition in the rookie out of Kentucky for the starting job.

鈥淚 think first you got to get in the league and see where you fit and find a niche for yourself,鈥?Boozer said. 鈥淚 watched Randle a lot in college. He had a great, great college run. Great rebounder. Great scorer inside and polished. But sometimes you just have to be thrown in the fire and play. Randle in his one season with Kentucky <a href=http://www.avanttravel.com/page.php?sale=Tory-Burch-Boston>Tory Burch Boston</a> was quite a productive player averaging 15.0 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. He also played a significant part in his team鈥檚 run through the NCAA Tournament to the national championship game. He led the nation with 24 double-doubles, which was second-most for a freshman in NCAA history聽only behind Kansas State鈥檚 , who had聽28 in the 2007-08 season.聽 He also earned him numerous awards聽such as聽being named聽SEC Freshman of the Year, All-SEC聽First Team and SEC All-Freshman team, Newcomer of the Year award, and chosen to Third Team All-America by the AP.聽Lastly and most importantly,聽he played an聽essential part in Kentucky s run through the NCAA tournament to the national championship game. This included recording a double-double in each of the first four games of the tournament, which made him just the second player聽at Kentucky and first in the last 56 years to accomplish that feat. Randle also had a solid showing at the 2014 summer league in Las Vegas聽averaging 12.5 points and 4.3 rebounds in four games played. In those games, he displayed his ability to attack the basket <a href=http://www.radiorcs.com/page.php?sale=Sale-Jimmy-Choo>Sale Jimmy Choo</a> and聽finish with contact, rebound on both ends of the floor, and lived up to the billing as a mobile聽big man with a high motor. That said, Boozer may still have the upper hand on the 20-year-old as he is an established player in the league with many seasons under his belt. This along with head coach stating in an interview last month that the tw0-time All-Star will be better with the presence of Randle on the team.

We have time to work that out, mix and match it up, see who plays better together. I think that will be fun. Let them compete. But I do think Boozer might be better with Julius just because he s a veteran guy and is talkative out there and could help him. But Jordan could too. Ed Davis is a guy that could be in that mix, so we have a lot of guys that will be fighting. He鈥檚 been known to block some shots, and won鈥檛 be a bad guy in there on the weak side to come over and help. He鈥檚 been in here most every day working out, has been really serious about it. 

Scott had also stated at his introductory press conference that he did not want to put any expectations on Randle, but rather wait and let him learn the system first. However, he did indicate that Randle had plenty of talent and would聽 definitely 聽help the team.

I鈥檓 not going to put expectations on young fella like that. I think he has to come in here and play. He just has to come in here and play, learn the system and I think the sky鈥檚 the limit because he鈥檚 definitely very talented. To get him at seven is a steal. He was one of the top three. I love his attitude. I love the way he attacks the basket. He brings some things to the table that can definitely help us. 

聽Although these statements do give the impression that聽Boozer聽could be聽in line for the聽starting power forward spot, it聽is still too early to rule out the possibility of Randle earning the聽job in training camp. It would not be a surprise to see the former Kentucky Wildcat get the nod given his talent level and what he brings to <a href=http://www.avanttravel.com/page.php?sale=Michael-Kors-Michael>Michael Kors Michael</a> the table for the team. Ultimately, the decision on who聽will start聽may come down to what kind of player Boozer is entering his 13th season in the NBA. If last season is of any indication of how聽Boozer will play, then Randle would have a clear shot at聽getting the starting job. However, if Boozer can rekindle his career with Los Angeles and return to being the double-double player he was聽a couple of seasons ago that聽role could be his to lose. Whatever the case may be, the Lakers will be the beneficiary of the increased competition as it will bring the best out of each聽player with a starting spot essentially up for grabs. That in mind, with training camp set to start later this month expect a spirited battle between Boozer and Randle, and whoever聽Scott聽names the starter will surely聽have earned it.聽 Photo Credit: Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images More breaking sports news on Twitter:

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