3 players the Lakers could target by trading into the NBA Draft second round
By Ian Levy
2. Peyton Watson, Wing, UCLA
Watson would offer the Lakers a very different look than Harper Jr. He’s extremely weak right now as a shooter and finisher, having averaged just 10.6 points per 40 minutes as a freshman, shooting 32.2 percent from the field, 22.6 percent from beyond the arc and just 65.6 percent on free throws.
What he does have to offer is ball-handling, versatility and defensive upside in a 6-foot-8 frame with a 7-foot wingspan. Watson averaged 9.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.9 blocks per 40 minutes and shown enough in other settings to at least hint at the fact that he can offer much more than he did at UCLA in a crowded wing rotation.
The Lakers would be betting on him being able to contribute immediately as a versatile wing defender, whose passing and slashing skills would allow him to work as an offensive connector around LeBron, Westbrook and Davis even if it takes a while for his shooting touch to develop. He is more of an upside gamble but he could help immediately and grow into a more useful piece as this team pivots towards the future a few years down the road.