Breaking down potential Lakers 2016 NBA Draft prospect Thon Maker
There was some big news for lottery-bound teams this weekend—the Los Angeles Lakers included—as five-star prospect Thon Maker announced his intention to enter 2016 NBA Draft.
With just six games remaining in the Lakers’ tumultuous 2015-16 season, all eyes will be fully focused on the hugely important NBA Draft Lottery this summer.
Currently sitting at 16-60, the disappointing squad has all but locked up the league’s second-worst record and are currently in ideal position to retain their top-three pick in next year’s draft. While nothing is guaranteed, Lakers’ faithful have little choice but to optimistically swoon over some of this year’s most intriguing prospects.
And that’s exactly what we’re about to do.
While elite prospects such as Duke’s Brandon Ingram, LSU’s Ben Simmons, and Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield have been on the Lakers’ radar for a while, this will be the first serious look we’ve taken at the 19-year-old prodigy, who claims he’s NBA ready.
Sudanese-born by way of Australia, Thon Maker has been catching the eyes of scouts for the entirety of his four-year high school career in Canada. However, he must wait for confirmation by the league to approve his eligibility, which requires that a player be older than 19 and at least one year removed from high school.
If he is indeed eligible, the seven-footer will be an intriguing, if not risky, lottery option. Maker has an exquisite touch for a teen his size and possesses quickness and strength that has captivated NBA buffs since 2014.
Still, his stock fell last year when he failed to impress at the Nike Hoops Summit in April, scoring just two points. Since then, skepticism has swirled around Maker. ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla said that NBA Scouts “weren’t seeing it” with him, culminating with Maker reclassifying for 2015 to get an extra year of experience under his belt.
Nonetheless, if his request for draft eligibility is approved, which seems likely, the intriguing big man will potentially be considered top-tier option come June. Here’s a full breakdown of his physical tools, his offense, his defense, his mentality and how he’d mesh with the Lakers’ young core.
Next: Physical Tools