Rounding up post-lottery mock drafts of the Lakers’ No. 22 pick
The NBA conducted its annual draft lottery Tuesday, and the draft order for 2021 is now officially set.
The Detroit Pistons won the day by obtaining the No. 1 overall pick, likely landing Oklahoma State product Cade Cunningham, who is widely viewed as the consensus best player.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors were the two teams who made jumps into the top four. Cleveland landed the No. 3 overall pick, and the Raptors will select at No. 4.
The Los Angeles Lakers weren’t involved with the draft lottery since it finished outside those qualifications. The Lakers’ first-round selection was determined in May after the league conducted a tiebreaker process.
Los Angeles has the 22nd overall pick in the draft, which is the only one it will have this year barring a trade.
After the lottery concluded, many post-lottery mock drafts went up, and we rounded up who the Lakers are selecting in those here:
The Ringer: Sharife Cooper, Auburn
Mandatory Credit: Arden Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Kevin O'Conner of The Ringer had the Lakers selecting Louisiana State University guard Cameron Thomas in his mock draft before the lottery, but in the updated version, it's Sharife Cooper from Auburn. Cooper, 19, is a 6'1" guard who played just one year before declaring for the draft. He averaged 20.2 points per game and 8.1 assists while shooting 39.1 percent overall on 15.3 attempts and 22.8 percent from deep on 4.8 attempts. With the Lakers, Cooper would be in a developmental role off the bench. With his ability to initiate plays, he can take on the challenge of being one of the primary playmakers in stints, but he'll have to fix his turnovers. He averaged 4.2 turnovers per game with Auburn, and passing windows are more confined in the NBA. His shotmaking ability has reasonable question marks. He's not shy to shoot, which is a trait the Lakers need, but the Lakers also need those shots to go in. Cooper can definitely work on that, but L.A. is in a position to win now with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
CBS Sports: Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Gary Parrish of CBS Sports has the Lakers taking Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert. This is arguably the most favorable mock around for Los Angeles, as Kispert is widely regarded as a lottery pick. If he actually falls to L.A., which is unlikely given his skillset, the Lakers would be extremely fortunate. Los Angeles' biggest need this summer is to add more shotmaking to the roster, which is reportedly a priority. What better way to do that than by having someone like Kispert. The 6'7" forward can slot in at either the 2 or 3 spot in the Lakers' lineup, and he shot 44 percent from deep this season on 6.5 attempts. A high percentage on high volume is the best combination for a player of Kispert's mold. This would be a phenomenal pick for L.A. if it actually happened, but plenty of teams selecting before No. 22 can easily snag him.
Rookie Wire/USA TODAY Sports: Tre Mann, Florida
Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
Cody Taylor of our Rookie Wire has Tre Mann of Florida going at No. 22. Unlike Kispert, Mann is viewed as a mid-to-late first-round pick, and the Lakers would be a fantastic fit. The 6'4" 20-year-old guard had a breakout season this year en route to an All-SEC first-team selection. He averaged 16 points per game, 5.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He shot 45.9 percent from the field on 12.9 attempts and 40.2 percent from the perimeter on 4.7 attempts. Mann fits the Lakers' need for a shotmaker. He's a knockdown shooter that is crafty and clever when attempting to get to his spots, whether he's maneuvering on or off the ball. He has the potential to be an immediate contributor to this team.
For The Win/USA TODAY Sports: Brandon Boston Jr., Kentucky
.Caitie McMekin/Pool Via News Sentinel
Bryan Kalbrosky of our For The Win has Brandon Boston Jr. of Kentucky going at No. 22. Boston turns 20 in November and is a 6'7" forward. He averaged 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 35.5 percent overall on 11.6 attempts and 30 percent from deep on 4.0 attempts. Boston's wingspan on defense is an attractive trait, especially for a Lakers team lacking true 3-and-D wings. However, his offensive prowess is extremely raw for what the Lakers need right now, and Boston is better suited as a second-round pick than at No. 22. However, as Kalbrosky notes, Boston is represented by Klutch Sports Group, the same agency as LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Boston shouldn't be ruled out.
The Athletic: Chris Duarte, Oregon
Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Sam Vecenie of The Athletic has Chris Duarte of Oregon going to the Lakers. Duarte, a 6'6" guard, improved many of his skills during his sophomore season with the Ducks. He averaged 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 53.2 percent overall on 11.6 attempts and 42.4 percent from deep on 5.5 attempts. The only knock on Duarte is his age. He's turning 24 soon, making him one of the oldest players in the draft. However, he's a solid basketball player that should contribute immediately in the right situation, and that situation could be Los Angeles. Like Mann, Duarte is also comfortable hunting his own shot from anywhere on the court or as a catch-and-shoot player. His fit alongside the Lakers isn't even a question if he's around at No. 22.
NBC Sports: Cameron Thomas, LSU
Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
James Ham of NBC Sports has LSU guard Cameron Thomas going to L.A., which is a name linked to the Lakers quite often in mock drafts. As aforementioned, The Ringer had a mock draft with Thomas as the No. 22 pick, which we dove deep into here. SB Nation and Bleacher Report both did post-lottery mocks that had also Thomas heading to Los Angeles.
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