One Lakers draft target at each position with the 17th overall pick

Lakers power forward draft target: Brice Sensabaugh, Ohio State

Brice Sensabaugh is a highly-touted forward out of Ohio State, ranked within the top 50 for the 2022 recruiting class. His freshman year exceeded expectations, earning him Big Ten All-Freshman honors. Sensabaugh was the highest-usage player in the Big Ten Conference and the fourth-highest-usage player in the country.

Offensively, Sensabaugh has a smooth jumper and is capable of being a knockdown shooter from behind the three-point line. He connected at nearly a 41 percent clip from three on 4.5 attempts per game.

He creates separation and hits tough shots at an above-average rate, but he tends to settle for these shots, making him look like a bad player when he’s not hitting them. He’s a natural scorer and does a great job of getting to his spots on offense. Reminiscent of a small-ball four, he loves backing down defenders and playing out of the post.

However, his lack of natural explosiveness limits his ceiling, and he’s not extremely athletic. His defensive abilities are a significant weakness, often getting lost and finding himself in foul trouble. NBA teams will wonder what his true value is if he can’t avoid being a complete liability on defense.

While his ceiling is a microwave bench scorer who gets hidden on defense, his floor is a player who doesn’t make it to his second contract in the NBA. Overall, Sensabaugh’s offensive abilities make him an intriguing prospect, but his defensive shortcomings may give teams pause. If he can improve his toughness and quickness on defense, he could become a valuable player.

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