The Los Angeles Lakers had arguably successful first and second rounds in the 2018 NBA Draft. However, they also found opportunity in forging undrafted deals.
With the 25th overall pick and their first selection, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Moritz Wagner from the University of Michigan. The German 21-year-old is a quality shooter who moves well, crucial skills for a modern center in the NBA.
In the second round, the Lakers stuck to an international theme. The 39th overall pick, acquired from Philadelphia, was Isaac Bonga, another German. For the 47th overall pick, they chose Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, a Ukrainian from the University of Kansas.
Bonga is a combo guard who will be a Euro stash player, while Mykhailiuk is a small forward with potential to contribute as a 3-point shooter.
Additions to the Lakers didn’t stop at the draft of course. The franchise pulled together their resources and signed three undrafted players. But who were they?
Snagging another Jayhawk, the Lakers signed guard Malik Newman. As released by Yahoo Sports’, Shams Charania, Newman committed to a two-way contract.
Sources: Undrafted Kansas guard Malik Newman has agreed to a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2018
Out of high school, he was a Top-10 recruit and a 2015 McDonald’s All-American. Interestingly, the current Lakers roster hosts Thomas Bryant and Brandon Ingram, also 2015 All-Americans.
Newman spent his freshman year at Mississippi State, playing in all 29 games, starting 21 of them. Following his freshman year, he transferred to Kansas and spent his sophomore season as a redshirt player.
When he could finally play, he averaged 18.5 points per game during the Jayhawks’ summer in Italy. During the regular season, he averaged 14.2 points per game and led the team in free throw percentage.
Next, the Lakers signed Joel Berry II as an undrafted free-agent. Berry is a point guard from the University of North Carolina.
North Carolina’s Joel Berry II has agreed to an undrafted free-agent deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2018
Berry was four-year standout at UNC and part of national championship team in 2017.
As a Tar Heel, he was part of the championship team of 2017. Not only that, he was crowned as the 2017 Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Competing with alumni like Michael Jordan, it was remarkable that he is considered “One of the most decorated players in Carolina Basketball history.”
Last but not least, The Athletic’s Michael Scotto broke that the Lakers had agreed to a 10 Exhibit deal with Oklahoma State’s Jeffrey Carroll.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Jeffrey Carroll (Oklahoma State) have agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal, a league source told The Athletic.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 22, 2018
The guard spent four seasons as a Cowboy after redshirting his true-freshman season. He led the team in both points per game and defensive rebounds. He was so good at rebounding in fact, that his 580 career rebounds (204, senior year), tied him for 18th-best in school history.
The three undrafted players, in addition to the three drafted picks, will potentially set the Lakers up for smooth success in 2018-2019. They are high caliber shooters with experience playing on competitive college and foreign teams.
The Lakers’ front office was working well together before, and it seems as though they continued that teamwork to bring home some great new additions.
Next: Complete 2018 NBA Draft First Round Grades
All stats are per their respective college rosters.