Lake Show Life
Fansided

3 young stars the Lakers missed out on thanks to Rob Pelinka

By Jason Reed

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: Desmond Bane #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles the ball up court against Davion Mitchell #15 of the Sacramento Kings in the first quarter at Golden 1 Center on October 27, 2022 in Sacramento, 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: Desmond Bane #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles the ball up court against Davion Mitchell #15 of the Sacramento Kings in the first quarter at Golden 1 Center on October 27, 2022 in Sacramento, 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /

2. Jaden McDaniels

Another promising young star that the Los Angeles Lakers missed on in the 2020 NBA Draft was Jaden McDaniels, who was ironically taken with the Lakers’ pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. The draft was not held in person so we didn’t have to see McDaniels put on a Lakers hat like DeAndre Hunter did in 2019, thankfully.

McDaniels is not close to the level that Bane is at right now and while Bane would have probably been the selection, McDaniels most likely would have been the second option. At the time, McDaniels seemed like a great fit.

He would still be a great fit on the Lakers today as he blossoms as a professional. He is still only 22 years old so there is a long way to go but we have started to see some of the potential that McDaniels has this season for Minnesota.

His three-point shot has not fully come around yet in the league but he has had moments where he had more than held his own from three. What McDaniels really brings to the table is great wing defense, which is something that Los Angeles has so desperately lacked since the 2020-21 season.

Instead of McDaniels, the Lakers have Juan Toscano-Anderson to essentially play the same role that McDaniels would play in LA. Toscano-Anderson is shooting 18.2% from three this season while not being close to the defender that McDaniels is.

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