Los Angeles Lakers: Draft prospects to stay away from in the first round
By Jason Reed
3. De’Anthony Melton, PG, USC
The Los Angeles Lakers worked out De’Anthony Melton as part of their pre-draft workouts and now Melton has emerged as a potential candidate to be drafted to his hometown Lakers. However, although the Lakers had success in drafting a hometown point guard last year in Lonzo Ball, the Lakers should stay away from making it two years in a row.
First and foremost, there is the obvious roadblock. The Lakers need a true shooting guard more than the team needs another point guard. Los Angeles can utilize Josh Hart in that combo guard role while bringing in a true shooting guard to play the two. Drafting a pure point guard, and starting Hart at the two, likely is not the best move.
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Second, there are the obvious concerns around Melton, who did not play his Sophomore year due to being involved in the FBI NCAA investigation.
However, that is not the main reason that Melton should not be drafted. While a year off of college basketball hurts his stock, it shouldn’t be a complete deal breaker.
Quite frankly, the biggest reason to stay away from Melton is a simple lack of a true fit on the Los Angeles Lakers. Melton is a playmaking guard that can get assists and rebound the basketball. He can also score at the rim with both hands, which is promising.
However, Melton does struggle at shooting the basketball, is a decent athlete at best and lacked the basketball IQ of a true point guard. While it was just his freshman season, that is the last sample of work we have to look at.
The Lakers already have a facilitating point guard that can rebound and finish at the rim in Lonzo Ball. Even if the Lakers were to draft a point guard, it should not be someone who gives a similar look to Ball.
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If I were the Lakers, I would rather pursue veteran Rajon Rondo to play that role off the bench. Rondo would be a cheap contract and would teach Ball the ropes. Melton, well, just isn’t the guy.