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NBA Draft Mock: Los Angeles Lakers find Dennis Schroder’s replacement

By Luca De Angelis

LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 27: Tre Mann #1 of the Florida Gators dribbles against Olivier Sarr #30 of the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena on February 27, 2021 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 27: Tre Mann #1 of the Florida Gators dribbles against Olivier Sarr #30 of the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena on February 27, 2021 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2021 NBA Draft Mock: Los Angeles Lakers select Tre Mann, PG, Florida

After watching three of their potential picks go off the board, the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office is thrilled to select Tre Mann at pick 22.

While there are many holes on the roster that the Lakers could potentially fill with this pick, the point guard position is shaping up to be the biggest.

After rejecting an $84 million contract from the Lakers, Dennis Schroder will likely be in another uniform next season. Behind Schroder, there aren’t many other options to run the point. LeBron James is coming off a severe injury and, moving forward, should play off-ball more often to preserve his body, and Alex Caruso (as much as we love him) isn’t known for his playmaking abilities.

Therefore, it’s hard to see the Los Angeles Lakers passing on Tre Mann at pick 22.

A combo guard out of Florida, Mann showed dramatic improvement throughout his sophomore season. He became a knockdown shooter (40.2%), showed an aptitude for making stepback jumpers, and was a smooth operator in the pick-and-roll.

While not quite as highly-touted a prospect, Mann’s feel for the game and herky-jerky moves remind me a little bit of former Laker D’Angelo Russell. He’s not the elite passer that you’d like to see in a lead guard, but on a roster with LeBron James, it’s not a crucial skill.

His lack of size and negative wingspan means that Mann may have trouble navigating screens and likely won’t be a plus defender at the NBA level. However, the playoffs exposed the team’s lack of shot creators aside from James and Anthony Davis. At pick 22, Mann not only meets a need but offers some exciting upside.

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