The Los Angeles Lakers must target Chris Smith in the 2020 NBA Draft

The Los Angeles Lakers will have a late first-round pick whether it’s the 29th pick or the 30th pick in the 2020 Draft. One player they must look to select is UCLA wing, Chris Smith.

Chris Smith should be a name that the front office is familiar with. After all, he is a UCLA product. The 20-year-old’s stock is rising and would’ve probably risen even more had the season not been canceled due to the coronavirus.

This week it was announced that the star will declare for the NBA Draft.

Why the Los Angeles Lakers should be interested in Chris Smith in the 2020 NBA Draft:

Smith is a 6’9 wing who can play multiple positions and he has the ability on both ends. The scary thing is that he is getting better and better. The junior won the Pac-12 Most Improved Player Award and was named to the All-Pac 12 First Team.

Smith averaged 13.1 points and 5.4 rebounds. He shot 46 percent from the field, 34 percent from deep, and an impressive 84 percent from the charity stripe.

The talented wing showed strides that few players in the country made from their previous season. As a sophomore, he averaged just 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in 19.6 minutes. Strides he made defensively, and in his free-throw shooting show his potential. He went from shooting 72 percent from the charity stripe to a magnificent 84 percent.

As the season progressed he also showed growth as a go-to scorer. He had a 30 point performance against ranked Colorado on Jan. 30. In mid-February, he had a pair of back-to-back games of 20 and 23 points against the Washington schools.

Smith has a much smoother handle than he did last year as well, which will certainly bode well for him in the league. With his size, he will be tough to defend as he can blow by slower forwards and size up smaller wings.

There are few well-rounded wings like Chris Smith in this draft. Smith has the size (6’9) and versatility to make an impact right away. Look for the 20-year-old to be the steal of the draft.