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Lakers: 5 Undrafted Free Agents to Target

By Cody Williams

Jun 21, 2016; El Segunda, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak during the press conference to introduce head coach Luke Walton at Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY
Jun 21, 2016; El Segunda, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak during the press conference to introduce head coach Luke Walton at Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY /
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Mar 20, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks forward Thomas Walkup (0) shoots over Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Steve Vasturia (32) during the first half in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks forward Thomas Walkup (0) shoots over Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Steve Vasturia (32) during the first half in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Thomas Walkup – SG – Stephen F. Austin

A player you might have seen rise to prominence in the 2016 NCAA Tournament is undoubtedly Thomas Walkup of Stephen F. Austin. The Lumberjacks were one of the Cinderella stories of the tournament this past year and it was their star that doesn’t look unlike a lumberjack that was leading the way. He literally was asked to do it all for Stephen F. Austin and he somehow made it happen time and again with less help than most.

Despite measuring quite small for an NBA shooting guard at only 6-4 and despite not showing any kind of impressive athleticism with a 27.5-inch no step vertical leap earlier this year, Walkup is simply a player that puts himself and his team in the right position. He clearly has a high basketball IQ and also has the gritty leadership and toughness that you love to see from a guy coming out of a mid-major school with people finding plenty of knocks against his NBA prospects.

He’s definitely not a player that you want to give a contract to right away, but the Lakers giving Walkup an invite to Summer League wouldn’t be the worst thing in the slightest. He’s a guy who could potentially thrive in that environment and may earn himself a roster spot before it’s all said and done out in the desert.

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