NBA Mock Draft 2016: Who Do the Lakers Select?

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; D'Angelo Russell (Ohio State) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number two overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; D'Angelo Russell (Ohio State) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number two overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 7, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler (4) celebrates with teammates after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler (4) celebrates with teammates after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

When you talk about really young European prospects potentially coming to the NBA, one of the calling cards of these types of players is that they actually haven’t spent a great deal of time playing in whatever league they’re a part of overseas. Even someone like Kristaps Porzingis—who we can all agree showed some exceptionally positive things as a rookie this past year—played fewer than 22 minutes in Europe the season prior to entering the 2015 NBA Draft.

However, a prospect like French wing Timothe Luwawu has been getting experience in a big way already overseas at just 20 years old. Playing for the talented Mega Leks team, the 20-year-old earned 31.1 minutes per game and showed off everything he’s capable of doing as a 6-7 wing in regards to his ability to score in a variety of ways, defend, rebound and much more.

The Suns are a strange case in the 2016 NBA Draft, especially considering that they need just any kind of young wings to help the franchise make strides forward. Luwawu could be a fantastic talent in the NBA and, with all of the picks that Phoenix have in this draft, I think selecting the French wing and finding out just what he could be would be well worth it.

Next: No. 14 Bulls

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