Los Angeles Lakers: Emmanuel Mudiay Should Be Early Target
Very few people expected the Los Angeles Lakers to experience much success this season, and now in possession of a 1-7 record through eight games of the new campaign, they continue to prove the doubters to be fortune tellers.
With a terrible defense to compliment their actually somewhat competitive offense, it’s clear that this will not a be a quick fix for coach Byron Scott, and the Lakers will continue to struggle mightily this season.
Ultimately, it may be for the best, as a top-five finish in the lottery would allow them to retain their draft selection, and would arm them with another piece to build for the future in addition to sidelined rookie Julius Randle.
With a need at every single position, the door is wide open for potential contributors. Even the slot that Kobe Bryant currently resides in will be up for grabs eventually, so the most talented player available will be taken should the Lakers get the opportunity to do so.
This club craves a potential cornerstone, and after the “Kobe Bryant Farewell Tour Featuring Tankapalooza” is finished, it will be in the best interest of the franchise to have a few players that could potentially fit the bill as the leader of the new era.
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While many would like to present Los Angeles, at least from a Lakers perspective, as an undesirable destination because of tarnished reputation, predicting the franchise is shattered. The reality is that key free agents will eventually come to the Lakers when two things are present:
- Cap room to the pay them.
- The idea that this team can compete over time.
Young, star free agents (Greg Monroe anyone?) will start to listen if those factors are present. Adding another piece via the draft will be a key component to making the roster appealing to potential free agents, and the Lakers are on track to do so given their horrendous record so far.
The early nomination for the Lakers draft target, and I mean early, is Emmanuel Mudiay.
Mudiay, after originally committing to play college basketball at Southern Methodist University, is now playing in China for the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association. Listed at 6’5” and 200 pounds, Mudiay is a beast at the point guard position.
He’s currently averaging 19 points, 6.6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game in what would have been his freshman season in college. Going against grown men who play professionally, even in China, is difficult, but Mudiay has put the numbers up as a starter.
As a Laker, he would be an excellent compliment to Julius Randle, and the point guard of the future that they have been looking for years in the making.
With Jeremy Lin scheduled to be a free agent, Steve Nash done as a Laker, and Jordan Clarkson still unproven at this point, Emmanuel Mudiay makes sense as the one to watch if you are interested in the Lakers draft fortunes.
Instead of competing for championships this season, the Lakers find themselves competing for ping pong balls, and if they wish to reverse that trend anytime soon, they best wish they are in position to pick someone along the lines of Emmanuel Mudiay.