Los Angeles Lakers: Way-too-early draft candidates for the 2020 NBA Draft
By Jason Reed
Los Angeles Lakers way-too-early draft target: Tre Jones, PG, Duke
Tre Jones is a different kind of player than Ramsey and it might not seem like he would be a great fit on the Los Angeles Lakers. With the Duke Blue Devils, Tre has exceeded as an excellent playmaker with the ball in his hands at the point guard position and plays the role of the on-court general perfectly.
Jones might not be the most gifted scoring-wise, especially when compared to modern NBA point guards, but he has the basketball IQ to survive in the league as someone who facilitates in the league as a secondary scorer.
That seems kind of redundant alongside LeBron James, right? The Lakers do not need someone, especially a rookie, to take the ball up court with James on the court.
That would not be Jones’ role on the Los Angeles Lakers and instead, he would take over from Rajon Rondo as the primary facilitator on the bench. Rondo is the only traditional point guard that the Lakers have in that sense and with his contract expiring and his play getting worse, it is smart for the tea,m to draft a replacement.
Plus, Jones brings more value than just being a facilitator as he is one of the best defenders in all of college basketball. Even if he spends a good amount of time on the court with LeBron, he would be just fine as the team’s fourth or fifth scoring option with the defense that he provides.
Jones would have to fall a bit to get to the 29th pick, but it is not unlikely as he is someone who is projected to go in the 20s.