Los Angeles Lakers: 5 shooters to target with 22nd pick
1. Chris Duarte
Chris Duarte makes the top of the list because not only is he a great shooter, but he has way more of a chance to still be on the board when the Lakers are picking at 22. Last season he made over 60 3-point attempts while shooting over 40% from that range.
He also started every game in his two seasons playing for the Oregon Ducks, who made a surprising run to the sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament last season. Those two years of experience would make him able to come in and possibly compete for a spot on the Lakers roster next season and actually get some playing time.
Duarte led the Ducks in points, assists, steals and blocks last season proving he can affect the game in more ways than just shooting the basketball. At 6’6″ 190 he also has the size to be a combo guard in the NBA because he should be able to defend both guard positions.
His 3-point and defensive skills are exactly what the Lakers need to add at the guard position in this offseason, so he would be an ideal draft prospect for them. The best part of his game is that he has the ability to both shoot off the dribble and be a catch-and-shoot threat coming off screens as well.
Free throws are also another one of his strengths, hitting over 81% of his attempts from the charity stripe last season. He is also a very strong rebounder than most guards averaging 4.6 rebounds a game last season.
He is one of the older prospects in the draft at 24 years of age because he went to junior college before attending Oregon for two seasons, and that is why he will probably be drafted in the range where the Lakers are picking. For comparison, Brandon Ingram is still only 23 years old and the Lakers drafted him all the way back in 2016.
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One Lakers connection that Duarte already has is that he won the Jerry West award his last season at Oregon that is awarded to the best shooting guard in college basketball.