Los Angeles Lakers: Two potential options for the 2019 NBA Draft

The Los Angeles Lakers could stumble upon lottery talent in Cam Reddish and Bol Bol with a pick outside the top-10 in the 2019 NBA Draft

The Los Angeles Lakers are in search for both talent and shooting this summer to surround LeBron James, who is entering his 17th season in the NBA, and they might have a chance to address both of those needs in the 2019 NBA Draft.

It’s likely that the Lakers will be drafting outside of the top-10 and if that’s the case there’s a possibility that top prospects Cam Reddish and Bol Bol will still be available.

Best case scenario: Reddish falls outside the top-10

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The chance that Reddish falls outside the top-10 of this year’s NBA draft is unlikely and that’s because of his tremendous upside which once had him projected as a lottery pick. However, if he does happen to find himself outside the top-10 there should be no hesitation by LA to make him a Laker.

Reddish has all the tools to be an effective two-way player at the next level, with the ceiling to become an All-Star.

The pairing of his 6-foot-8 frame and athleticism will allow him to guard multiple positions, which is one of the most valuable traits a player can have in today’s game. Also having a wingspan of 7-foot-1 and weighing 218 pounds are crucial components that’ll allow him to make his defensive presence felt both in the paint on forwards and around the 3-point line on guards.

There’s a long way for Reddish to go to become a good NBA defender and there’s a chance he gets there as he learns tendencies and schemes, but there’s no question that he has all the physical attributes a team would want to work with on that end of the floor.

As much of a defensive prospect Reddish is most of his highlights came from beyond the arc during his freshman year at Duke.

Despite ending the season shooting 33 percent from 3 and 35 percent from the field, Reddish seemed to never lack confidence in his shot. He hit a number of big baskets for the Blue Devils last season and was a constant threat from behind the 3-point line.

Inconsistent play is the biggest concern Reddish faces heading into the draft and it’s the reason why some mock drafts have him outside the top-10.

The ability Reddish has to guard multiple positions and knock down perimeter shots makes him a good fit for a team that’s desperately looking to add two-way players around LeBron James.

Realistic scenario: Bol Bol brings versatility to LA

The most intriguing player in this year’s draft class is Bol Bol, that is outside of Zion Williamson.

The obvious with Bol is his size (7-foot-2) and length (7-foot-5 wingspan). His rare physical measurements make him a presence, both offensively and defensively, whenever he’s on the court.

And if that alone isn’t enough to see why NBA scouts see his defensive potential as an elite rim protector in the NBA, then maybe his standing reach of 9-foot-6 and his 2.7 blocks per game during his freshman season at the University of Oregon will help.

Along with that length, however, comes his weakness of having a thin body structure. Bol played in only nine games at Oregon due to a stress fracture in his left foot, making durability and strength a couple of his headlining concerns as we inch closer to draft day.

At the next level, Bol will need to work on building his frame and making sure he continues to understand how to utilize his body wherever he is on the court. It will be a challenge for Bol to compete against NBA talent his rookie season, but studying tape on a player like Kristaps Porzingis, who had similar strengths and concerns ahead of the 2015 NBA draft, will help Bol change the negative narrative he has surrounding his body.

Bol bundles his unusual size and length with an arsenal of offensive weapons.

In his limited time at Oregon he averaged 21 points per game while shooting 56 percent from the field, 52 percent from 3 and 75 percent from the free throw line – on the offensive end Bol can do anything that’s asked of him.

The combination of good ball control, for his size, along with an array of post moves makes him a tough matchup for any defense as he can exploit mismatches. Offensively his game isn’t completely polished, but there’s no question that at this point in his career he has the skills to score the basketball against NBA competition.

The idea of a 7-foot-2, two-way center alongside LeBron James sounds unrealistic but come June it could just be a reality for the Los Angeles Lakers.