Lakers mock draft: LA lands 2 extremely exciting scorers to bolster depth
By Jason Reed
With the 13th pick in this NBA mock draft, the Lakers select Brice Sensabaugh, SF, Ohio State
By the time the 2023 NBA Draft rolls around Brice Sensabaugh may not even be available at this selection for the Los Angeles Lakers. Six months ago draft analysts would have pegged Sensabaugh as a second-round prospect that could potentially move into the first round.
Now, Sensabaugh is undoubtedly going to go in the first round and has moved up to be a backend lottery prospect. If he continues to thrive with Ohio State (and potentially puts together a run during March Madness), then it is not crazy to think that Sensabaugh could go in the top 10.
Sensabaugh is 21 games into his freshman season with the Buckeyes and has proven that he is a scorer with legitimate potential. The six-six Florida native is averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game while shooting 50.6% from the field and 47.4% from three.
Los Angeles is one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the league and getting a prospect like Sensabaugh that can knock down shots at this rate would be incredible. His three-point rate won’t directly translate in year one but at the very least, he has proven to be more than qualified to be an off-ball shooter.
As Sensabaugh continues to develop, he could become someone who could create his own shot and get others involved as well. For the time being, the Lakers will be more than happy to get a prominent off-ball shooter.
Sensabaugh isn’t the only exciting prospect the Lakers can take, though, as there are some potential gems in the second round to consider.