Los Angeles Lakers pick Thomas Bryant 42nd in 2017 NBA Draft
With the 42nd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Indiana center, Thomas Bryant.
The Los Angeles Lakers have made their four selection of the night. With the 42nd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Lakers selected Indiana center, Thomas Bryant.
Bryant joins an impressive stable of young players the Lakers have selected. With the second overall pick, the Lakers picked UCLA point guard, Lonzo Ball. With the 27th pick, which they acquired from the Brooklyn Nets, the Lakers selected Utah power forward, Kyle Kuzma.
The Lakers came into the night with the 28th overall selection but turned that into two picks. The Lakers traded the 28th pick to the Utah Jazz in exchange for the 30th and 42nd picks. The Jazz would select North Carolina center, Tony Bradley, with the 28th pick. The Lakers would select Villanova guard Josh Hart with the 30th pick and have used the 42nd pick on the versatile Bryant.
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Bryant’s size alone makes him an intriguing prospect. He is measured at 6-feet-11 inches tall but has a wingspan that measured out at 7-feet-6 inches. That is an absolutely insane wingspan, as Bryant can be a difference maker on the defensive end of the court with that size. He averaged 1.5 blocks per game as a sophomore and could become a good rim protector at the next level.
In addition to the length, what is intriguing for the Lakers is Bryant’s versatility on the offensive side of the ball. With that size, Bryant is a load in the paint and difficult to defend. He should be able to find some success against even the strong defenders with that length. What the Lakers really like is his budding perimeter game.
Bryant has range all the way out to the three-point line. He made 38.3 percent of his three-pointers last season, so there is a chance the Lakers can develop him into a stretch big man. That may be the route that Bryant has to take, as his interior game does raise some concerns.
His two-point shooting percentage plummetted from his freshman to sophomore season. His lack of athleticism hurts there, as he is mostly a below-the-rim player. But, if he can continue working on his jump shot, he should carve out a role in the NBA.
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For a second round pick, Bryant provides the Lakers with a good amount of upside. Like the three players selected by the Lakers before him, Bryant fills a potential need on the roster.