The Los Angeles Lakers continued adding talent after the 2017 NBA Draft concluded, signing undrafted free agent, P.J. Dozier.
After picking four players in the NBA 2017 Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers did not stop making moves.
In a night where the Lakers picked Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart, and Thomas Bryant, the Lakers added a fifth new player to the team. Per ESPN’s Chris Haynes, undrafted rookie PJ Dozier out of South Carolina signed with the Lakers shortly after the conclusion of the draft Thursday night.
Dozier played two years for the Gamecocks and averaged 13.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 38 games as a sophomore last season.
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Dozier is 6’6″ athletic, rangy guard that can play either backcourt position. His biggest strengths are his defense and size. With a 6’11” wingspan, he has the physical size and athletism to guard multiple positions and should do well against smaller point guards.
With such good defensive upside and size, why wasn’t Dozier drafted then? The biggest knock on Dozier is his shooting.
Dozier shot only 40.7 field goal percentage, a low 29.8% from beyond the arc and only 59.7% from the free throw line last season. Comparing these stats to his freshman year, Dozier showed only a little improvement in his shooting. According to Julian Applebome, a scout for DraftExpress, Dozier has the potential to become a big point guard and ball handler on the offensive end.
"Some of the upside surrounding Dozier on the offensive end of the floor at the NBA level is his potential to play as a big point guard or secondary ball handler. He is not yet a true point guard and has a ways to go in terms of developing as a decision maker and reliable lead guard, but the flashes he has shown as a ball handler and facilitator lend credence to the notion the he could function as a playmaker down the line."
Dozier’s versatility on defense will keep teams intrigued, but he will have to continue to improve his shooting and ball skills to make his mark in the NBA. Dozier could possibly turn into a situation like David Nwaba, who went undrafted and then made an impression with the Lakers on two 10-day contracts, eventually signing a multi-year deal after the 10-day contracts were up.
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Dozier will suit up for the Lakers in the NBA Summer League 2017 in Las Vegas from July 7-17. The Lakers will first play against the L.A. Clippers on July 7.