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Los Angeles Lakers: 5 2nd-Round Prospects

By Carter Johnson

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the stage before the start of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the stage before the start of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 9, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Maryland Terrapins center Diamond Stone (33) moves the ball up the floor during the game with the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center. Maryland defeated Wisconsin 63-60. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Maryland Terrapins center Diamond Stone (33) moves the ball up the floor during the game with the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center. Maryland defeated Wisconsin 63-60. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /

Diamond Stone, C, Maryland

Despite showing signs of extraordinary talent in the paint, Diamond Stone’s lackluster stats in his lone collegiate season have caused him to slide on draft boards, having fallen to the second round after being predicted by many to be a mid-to-late first rounder and even perhaps a lottery pick.

Sounds like good fortune for the Lakers.

The team desperately needs a solid center with rim-protecting potential and offensive capability and have the opportunity to pick up a player with immense potential in both areas in Stone.

Stone already has a soft touch around the rim and the makings of a good post game, but lacked the consistency to post dominant performances like his 39-point, 12-rebound game against Penn State regularly.

Spectacular outings like this one definitely put Stone on the radar, but a stat line of 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks a game are incredibly underwhelming when matched up with the potential he shows on tape.

Stone still has a lot of room for growth, but luckily the Lakers have a wealth of Hall of Fame post players that could mentor the young man and help him hone his potential. He’s still very much a project at this point, but could pay major dividends for the team down the road.

Next: Defensive Pest

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