Los Angeles Lakers: Ranking team’s top needs during 2018 NBA Draft

3. Shooting, especially from 3-point range

Potential fits: Landry Shamet, Kevin Huerter, Khyri Thomas

Last offseason, finding some quality shooters was one of the Lakers’ top priorities. Well, I believe that could be the case again in 2018, especially when it comes to finding guys who can sink it consistently from behind the arch.

In 2017-18, the Lakers were the second-worst team in the league in terms of 3-point shooting. They bested only the Phoenix Suns, connecting on 34.5 percent of their long range shots. A big part of that was the ugly effort from Lonzo Ball from that distance, but they didn’t really have a go-to guy until the second half of the season with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

The problem? KCP may not return in 2018-19.

If that’s the case, the Lakers will need to upgrade their shooting. This issue will obviously be addressed during free agency, but the work can begin during the draft. There are a number of high-efficiency shooters who could be available at No. 25, giving Los Angeles some legitimate options to help them improve from the field.

My personal favorite is Landry Shamet, arguably the best shooter of the 2018 NBA Draft class. However, others like Kevin Huerter or Khyri Thomas could also be options. I’ve seen Grayson Allen’s name thrown around as well, but I’m not sold on the mercurial Duke alum.

If the Lakers are lucky, they can address this need and another one with the same player.