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Los Angeles Lakers: Magic Johnson wishes he had 20 Josh Harts

By Kenneth Teape

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 10: Josh Hart #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Houston Rockets on April 10, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 10: Josh Hart #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Houston Rockets on April 10, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations, Magic Johnson, is a big fan of guard Josh Hart.

The Los Angeles Lakers added to their young core in a big way during the 2017 NBA Draft. Courtesy of some wheeling and dealing by Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka, the Lakers ended up making four selections in the draft.

Lonzo Ball garnered a lot of that attention. The No. 2 overall pick from UCLA has a headline-grabbing father, LaVar Ball, who is a lightning rod. As a result, that trickles down to Lonzo. He was one of the most popular rookies in recent history.

Ball showed why he was the No. 2 overall pick throughout the season with his playmaking, passing and defense.

Kyle Kuzma came out of nowhere during the Las Vegas Summer League and carried that momentum throughout the regular season. He tied for the team lead in points per game, averaging 16.1.

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Ball and Kuzma weren’t the only rookies to showcase their talents this season. With the No. 30 overall pick, the Lakers selected Josh Hart out of Villanova. Hart was a dominant player in college, but some questioned if he could have the same success at the next level.

In the beginning, things were difficult. Hart was dealing with different injuries, as he sprained his ankle in the Summer League and then dealt with hamstring and Achilles issues in training camp. That put him behind the eight-ball early on, but he came along rather quickly.

Hart was pressed into duty because of injuries to the roster, but he stepped up in a major way. He filled a multitude of ways, showcasing the versatility he had at Villanova. He can defend multiple positions defensively, and offensively he is efficient as well.

With the current landscape of the NBA, Hart is a great player to have. He played some point guard when Lonzo Ball was out, but excels off the ball as well given his 3-point shooting and basketball IQ.

Like Kuzma, Hart looks like he is another steal for Los Angeles. How much does the team like him? President of basketball operations Magic Johnson said he wished he had more Harts, a lot more.

"“If we can have 20 of him, this guy is unbelievable,” Johnson said during his and Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka’s exit interview. “He’s a winner, he’s tough, plays on both ends of the court.“I think he’s one of the best rebounding guards in the league. If you think about the guy in OKC, after him, I think Josh is second as a rebounding guard.”"

The player in Oklahoma City that Johnson is referring to is reigning MVP, Russell Westbrook. Westbrook has averaged a triple-double for two consecutive seasons, making him one of the best rebounding guards in the NBA.

Hart had nine double-digit rebound games this season and averaged 4.2 rebounds per game, an impressive number for someone who is 6’5″ and played only 23.2 minutes per game.

That toughness is one reason that Johnson is such a big fan of his. While he is not relied on to be a go-to scorer, he showed that he is capable of it at the end of the season.

In the final eight games of the season, after Hart returned from a fractured hand, he averaged 16.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He registered two double-doubles during that time and scored at least 20 points in each of the final four games of the season.

Next: Lakers 10 Greatest Draft Picks of All-Time

Hart may not have been a high draft pick, but he is definitely part of the Lakers future. He brings a lot to the table to like, as his skill set and versatility make him a good fit in multiple lineup combinations.

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