The future of the Los Angeles Lakers appears to be in good hands after they added their new cornerstone player, Luka Doncic, through a blockbuster trade last season.
He’s already shown he’s ready to carry this team into next season and beyond, based on an MVP-worthy campaign this past season. However, there are still roster issues the Lakers will need to address to ensure they have the right players around Doncic.
With LeBron James’ decision likely to be a major part of the offseason, the Lakers will also look to the NBA draft to potentially add another crucial role player. They currently hold the No. 25 pick, and depending on how things shake out with the selections above them, they could get an ideal big man at that spot.
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Bleacher Report’s updated NBA mock Draft predicts that Los Angeles could potentially have Duke center Patrick Ngongba II available at that spot. He’s 6-foot-11 and averaged 10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and two assists per game, with a 60.6% field goal percentage.
The Duke sophomore participated in 32 games, including several during Duke’s NCAA Tournament run to the Elite Eight, which gave him postseason experience. Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley contends that although Ngongba isn’t a “super-explosive” player, but could offer the sort of player to set screens and allow for pick-and-roll plays for Doncic.
Along with that, the former Duke big man could provide the Lakers with better rim protection than they’re currently getting from their starter, Deandre Ayton, or backup big man Jaxson Hayes.
The team has relied on Ayton and Hayes since the departure of Anthony Davis, who they included as part of the deal to bring Doncic to the roster. However, neither player is considered an ideal option for the type of center that could help Doncic most on the court.
The biggest factor in getting Ngongba is that the Lakers would need other teams with picks ahead of them to pass on the Duke big man. A different NBA mock draft from Sports Illustrated projected he would go one spot above Los Angeles to the New York Knicks.
USA Today’s recent mock draft projects that Ngongba would go even sooner, potentially joining the Atlanta Hawks, who have the No. 22 pick. However, in that mock draft, they also have the Lakers selecting big man Morez Johnson Jr., a recent NCAA champion with the Michigan Wolverines.
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