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Justin Anderson On The Lakers’ Draft Board

By Chris Walton

Mar 1, 2014; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Justin Anderson (1) celebrates by cutting the net after the Cavaliers game against the Syracuse Orange at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2014; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Justin Anderson (1) celebrates by cutting the net after the Cavaliers game against the Syracuse Orange at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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The league has evolved into valuing the presence of perimeter “3-and-D” players. Even in these playoffs, gutsy performances and big games have come from the elite of this status, along with some role players.

We’ve watched last year’s NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs elevate his game at the start of the playoffs. Matt Barnes has contributed fairly well for the Los Angeles Clippers. The Houston Rockets have even gotten some solid contributions from Corey Brewer.

With LeBron James and Steph Curry as the probable guys that the championship will go through, you’re going to need someone to try to make either of them work.

If the Los Angeles Lakers are ever going to get back to prominence, then they must follow in the same steps as the teams noted above. The team put up an abysmal performance on the defensive end, ranking in the bottom-half of the league in points allowed. On top of what the team did or didn’t do, on the defensive end, they lacked any reliable defenders.

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With the upcoming draft approaching, the team will potentially have three draft picks slated in: one in the top-five, the 27th pick and the 34th pick. Depending if the team can keep their pick in the lottery, the team can start to build their foundation still later in the first round. One player that comes to mind at the 27th spot is University of Virginia swingman Justin Anderson.

The 6’6″ junior is one of the most NBA-ready prospects in this year’s draft. Not only does he has impressive physical tools, such as his nearly seven-foot wingspan and weight over 220 pounds. While his athleticism has never been in question, Anderson’s jumper is what many pundits wanted to see improve. While spearheading the top defense in the NCAA, Anderson flexed an impressive three-point percentage of 45.2 percent, up from 29.4 percent just a year ago.

As touched on, Anderson may very well be the most athletic prospect in the NBA Draft. During this week’s draft combine, he showed some of those feats to scouts:

Although Anderson isn’t the complete package of an all-around NBA wing, the things that he can do on the court could possibly buy him a very long professional career. Mike Schmitz of DraftExpress.com covered some of Anderson’s skills going into the draft:

"That outstanding physical profile forms the basis of his productivity on the defensive end, and plays a big part in his value as a prospect. He has very quick lateral mobility, and changes direction very well on the defensive side of the ball. He also has a long, 6‘11“ wingspan and great closeout speed, helping him recover to contest shots, both on the perimeter and at the rim, when he does get beat.Anderson’s defensive fundamentals are not always perfect, but his outstanding physical tools and high energy level help cancel this out, suggesting Anderson has even more room to grow as a defender than the already plus defender that he currently is."

If Anderson lasts until the Lakers make it into the late first-round, then he should get a serious look from the franchise. The empty hole at small forward would immediately be Anderson’s for the taking.

It’s a lot of pressure to place the onus on Anderson to elevate the team’s defense, but with them being in the process of a rebuild, big minutes could help him get acclimated to the NBA speed and grind. Head coach Byron Scott would love the grit that Anderson brings, along with his ability to shoot the basketball.

It’s not often that the Lakers can add contributing pieces at Anderson’s age. At least for a few years, the team could mold a player with potential at a low price. The importance of maintaining cap space while having a viable prospect only aids the Lakers in their crusade back to title contention.

A combination of the team’s potential lottery pick, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, and Anderson could be the next big time core in the NBA in a number of years. For once, the Lakers can find a slither of hope, but Jun. 25 will determine that fate.

Next: Golden State Warriors: 5 Keys To Closing Out The Series

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