3 Lakers Summer League sleepers who could earn minutes this season
The Los Angeles Lakers are 0-2 in Summer League action, but these three players look like potential NBA contributors.
The Los Angeles Lakers have one of the NBA’s most expensive cores after re-signing Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, and Rui Hachimura in free agency. How Rob Pelinka and the front office fill out the rest of the roster could determine Los Angeles’ ability to compete next season.
Depth shrinks in the playoffs, but the best teams in the world have depth across the board and lineup adaptability. The Lakers’ Summer League roster is a great place to look for potential low-cost contributors.
LA is older than most teams with a mandate to contend for as long as LeBron James and Anthony Davis are on the team. Rookies and Summer Leaguers don’t often crack NBA rotations, especially not with contenders, but there are notable exceptions to the rule every year.
Who on the Lakers’ Summer League roster might contribute in the pros next season?
No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers Summer League sleeper: Colin Castleton
The undrafted 7-footer out of Florida has been rock-solid in LA’s two Summer League games to date. He was especially prolific against the Spurs on Wednesday, dropping 18 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and four blocks in 32 minutes. Quite the well-rounded performance.
Castleton was on a lot of draft boards due to his intriguing blend of size and skill offensively. He hasn’t stretched his range out to the 3-point line yet, but Castleton frequently faces up from the elbow before flowing effortlessly into pull-up middies. He has clean footwork in the post and feather-soft touch at the rim.
The Lakers signed Castleton to a two-way contract. He will probably start the season in the G-League, but the league is still preciously short on true 7-footers with the potential to shoot and pass. If Castleton can develop into a real playmaking hub on the elbows or in the post, that’s extremely valuable.
Defensive concerns definitely creep into the picture with Castleton, but his four blocks attest to sharp instincts and a gaping wingspan. He’s massive and he will wall off the paint to rim-hungry guards. The question is, does he hold up when NBA offenses get him guarding in space?