Lake Show Life
Fansided

3 Final Four prospects the Lakers could target in 2022 NBA Draft

By Jason Reed

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 25: Caleb Love #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts in the second half of the game against the UCLA Bruins in the Sweet Sixteen round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Center on March 25, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 25: Caleb Love #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts in the second half of the game against the UCLA Bruins in the Sweet Sixteen round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Center on March 25, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

3. Caleb Love, UNC

Caleb Love is a bonafide second-round prospect that should undoubtedly be there for the Lakers in the second round to potentially take. The question is not if Love will make it to the second round but at what point do the Lakers try and buy a second-round pick to select him (assuming they like him).

Love ranks 70th in NBADraft.net’s big board so there is even a chance that he does not get drafted (if he does declare for the draft) and the Lakers could sign him to a G League or two-way contract.

Love is a combo guard who has shown improve shooting this season with a 37.1% clip from beyond the arc. That was the biggest hole in Love’s game as he is an athletic guard with a good first step that can get to the rim and finish. He obviously won’t be as efficient in the league, but that skillset is there.

Love is nobody to write home about defensively but he too is the classic high-motor, physical defender that is going to be a pest in the backcourt. Hustle plays are the name of the game for Love and that is exactly what the Lakers need.

Love could be a younger (and hopefully better) version of Avery Bradley for the Lakers that the team would hope to develop. There is some overlap with Talen Horton-Tucker in terms of skillset, but Love’s improved shot does help.

Next. 50 greatest Lakers of all-time. dark

More so than anyone on this list, Love’s stock is potentially rising with the NCAA Tournament. The guard is averaging 18 points per game in the tournament with a 30-point outburst in the Sweet 16 that led UNC over UCLA.

Home/Lakers Draft