Los Angeles Lakers sign undrafted free agents DeAndre Kane and LaQuinton Ross
Two of the top undrafted players will attempt to pursue their dreams of playing in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers as DeAndre Kane and LaQuinton Ross will reportedly play for their summer league team.
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Kane was one of the top players for the Iowa State Cyclones last season when the 6-4 guard was named a third-team All-American. His advanced age, he’s 25, was a big turnoff for teams who didn’t want to spend a draft pick on the player who began his college career with the Marshall Thundering Herd.
At Marchall, Kane was the Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 2011 and was twice named to the Conference USA second-teams as a sophomore and junior. He was first-team Big 12 performer last year when he averaged 17.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists as one of the more complete players in the country.
Ross averaged 15.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last year for the Ohio State Buckeyes. The 6-8, 220-pound forward declared for the draft after his junior season. He was a third-team All-Big Ten performer last year.
Summer league play begins on July 11 for the Lakers who also will have second round pick Jordan Clarkson participating. The Lakers acquired him in a draft night trade from the Washington Wizards who selected him with the No. 46 pick.
Lakers general manager would not commit to first round pick, Julius Randle, competing in the summer league after they took him with the No. 7 pick in the draft out of Kentucky.
There have been reports Randle could require preventative foot surgery this offseason to correct a previous injury that did not heal properly, but Randle and his camp have denied those reports.