The bad news continues for the Los Angeles Lakers, even in the offseason. The NBA Draft is a few weeks away, and while teams are finalizing who they will select on June 23, the Lakers are busy figuring out a way to get a second-round pick.
Los Angeles gave the New Orleans Pelicans three first-round picks in return for Anthony Davis. Thus leaving the team with none in this year’s draft. But even though the Lakers have no draft picks at the moment, a current Laker is still being mentioned in connection with a potential lottery pick.
Bleacher Report released an article comparing draft prospects to NBA players and Carmelo Anthony made the list. The article states Duke forward Paolo Banchero has a similar game to Melo.
Banchero will most likely be a top pick in this year’s draft possibly heading to the Houston Rockets if no other team swoops him up. He averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and three assists per game in the 2021-22 season, collecting a couple of honors along the way
Does Pablo Banchero’s playing style mimic Lakers’ Carmelo Anthony’s?
Banchero and Melo both have a way of getting buckets in the post. Banchero is 6’10 and 250 pounds. He has no problem using his weight to back down smaller defenders when trying to get to the basket and Melo can do the same.
Melo may not get the same praise he did back in his Denver Nuggets and early New York Knicks days, but he can still score when he needs to.
During his New York days, Melo’s style of play relied a lot on isolation ball. Smaller defenders were no match for him in the post His quick footwork and strength allowed him to easily create space between himself and the defender to get to the rim or for a quick turn-around jumper.
Another similarity between Banchero and Melo is they are both good off the dribble. ESPN’s Mike Schmitz released his list of the top moves from this year’s draftees and Banchero’s go-to involved a spin move off the dribble.
In Melo’s early days with the Nuggets, he would also use the spin move off the dribble to get a basket. In a video released by the NBA, he stated the spin move was his favorite move to do on the court.
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Both Melo and Banchero do have similarities in their games and if Banchero continues to play the way he did in college for whatever team that selects him, there is no doubt he can have the same success that Melo has had.