5 Sleepers the Lakers should take a chance on at No. 17 in 2024 NBA Draft

3. Tyler Kolek, Point Guard

The Los Angeles Lakers have a well-documented need for depth across the rotation. One of the positions at which it's weakest is point guard, especially with D'Angelo Russell having a player option that he reserves the right to decline.

Whether or not Russell accepts his player option, the Lakers need depth at point guard—and Tyler Kolek could be the high-level role player the team needs.

Kolek is admittedly undersized at 6'1.25" and 197 pounds with a near 6'3" wingspan. What he lacks in ideal measurements, however, he more than makes up for in his style of play, including his elite court vision, efficient shooting, and sound defensive instincts.

The Marquette Golden Eagles star also showed incredible poise under pressure as he led the team to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2012 and became the first player since Jason Kidd in 1993 to record at least 10 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds in consecutive NCAA Tournament games.

Kolek is coming off of a season in which he averaged 15.3 points, 7.7 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 three-point field goals made on .496/.388/.851 shooting. He's arguably the best pure passer in his class and has the three-point shooting to play off-ball.

Kolek has also had to defend through effort more than his physical attributes, which makes him the type of culture-building player who could thrive in a backup role in 2024-25 and beyond.

Everyone wants a star, but that would still be great value at No. 17.