Lakers draft: Pro comparisons, fit, and analysis for 2024 target Kyle Filipowski

Kyle Filipowski Analysis: Cons

For as promising as Kyle Filipowski is, there are three crucial flaws that the Los Angeles Lakers must be aware of. That all begins with what was revealed at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine: Filipowski stands at 6'10.75", but has a wingspan of 6'10.5".

It should be noted that a 6'10.5" wingspan is still far longer than that of the average NBA player, but it could prove problematic as he spends possessions defending the likes of Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic.

That could become an issue on the defensive end of the floor overall, especially considering he isn't an elite athlete—concern No. 2. His quickness and agility are appealing, but his 32.5 max vertical leap means he'll need to rely almost exclusively on his fundamentals to contest shots.

Playing alongside Anthony Davis could mitigate some of those concerns, but there's only so much a teammate can do if you're targeted in isolation.

The third area of concern with Filipowski is more of a question than an outright flaw: How legitimate is his improvement as a shooter? Yes, he improved his three-point field goal percentage by an impressive 6.6 percent, but he also went from 76.5 to 67.1 percent at the free-throw line.

It's possible that was just a blip on the radar, but teams should always be wary of prospects who struggle at the line, yet rely on their jumper for consistent offense.