3 South Bay Lakers who could be in the NBA rotation next year

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: Jay Huff #30, Carmelo Anthony #7, and Jemerrio Jones #50 of the Los Angeles Lakers warm up before the game against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on December 21, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images )
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: Jay Huff #30, Carmelo Anthony #7, and Jemerrio Jones #50 of the Los Angeles Lakers warm up before the game against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on December 21, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images ) /
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(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. Mac McClung

The Lakers signed Mac McClung after he went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft and he is already a familiar name with most Laker fans. McClung was a standout player during the NBA Summer League alongside Austin Reaves, who ended up getting the roster spot on the Lakers.

McClung spent some time with the Lakers during the preseason and actually made his NBA debut with another team, the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls called on McClung when the league was going through the wave of positive COVID-19 tests and he played one game with the team.

He was not offered a second 10-day contract and even played two games with the Windy City Bulls. McClung is back with the Lakers as he is playing in South Bay and he is having a fantastic season in the G League to start his pro basketball career.

McClung is averaging 21.1 points with 7.7 assists and 6.9 rebounds per game in the G League this season. He is shooting 36.7% from the three-point line and 46.2% overall.

The talent level in the G League is obviously not close to the NBA but some players are just better than their peers and McClung is one of them. He is a hard-working defensive player (that will translate to the NBA) and showed that he can score the rock against other pro basketball players.

It will be a work in progress, but he has proven that he deserves a shot in the NBA rotation.