Pre-Draft Lottery Projection: 4
Can anyone actually guess what the Lakers are going to do next? Trade rumors, front office dysfunction, head coach job insecurity and locker room drama have encapsulated this team all season long. Yet, the Lakers were rewarded for their failures as they snatched up the fourth pick in the draft lottery.
With most of the old regime out of the picture, perhaps Los Angeles may finally become the perfect haven for free agents and drafted players the media so desperately wants you to believe it is. What better way is there to usher in this new era of stability, than to make the perfectly sensible choice here?
Jarrett Culver is the jack-of-all-trades player the Lakers need to finally establish a good chemistry on the court. At Texas Tech, Culver led the Red Raiders in points, assists and rebounds all the way through to their defeat in the NCAA championship game. With shooting guard being the Lakers’ second biggest positional need and a dearth of high-end big men in this year’s draft, Culver is the smart move here.
Pre-Draft Lottery Projection: 5
Before all else, the Cavaliers must come to terms with the fact that they are stuck in NBA purgatory. Bracing for the harsh reality of disappointing seasons is a sentiment many Cleveland sports fans have become quite accustomed to. Nonetheless, it’s doubtful any would trade their sole NBA championship against the best team of all time for anything, even a few winning seasons.
With that being said, it’s time for Cleveland to lock in on De’Andre Hunter. A true product of the modern NBA, Hunter does all the subtle things it takes to start stacking up numbers in the win column. A ferocious defender with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Hunter proved himself capable of locking down NBA-caliber talent in the national title game by absolutely shutting down Culver.
Hunter’s impressive true shooting percentage of 61.8 indicates his shot-creation ability will translate to the NBA smoothly. Although he’s often compared to superstar Kawhi Leonard, this would still be a great pick even if Hunter pans out as more of a Robert Covington. There is immense value in a player with DPOY potential that can also spread the floor for his teammates.