Los Angeles Lakers: Final realistic predictions for the 2018 NBA Draft

1. Shake Milton is the pick at No. 25

There are so many options here that fans would love to see. Mitchell Robinson would be great, but I don’t see him falling that far. The same goes for Kevin Huerter. A couple of guards come to mind when I think of realistic targets, but none stands out more than Shake Milton.

Now I’ve seen a lot of mock drafts out there suggesting Milton will fall somewhere in the No. 30-45 range. However, I’m a firm believer the SMU product is more than worthy of the No. 25 pick, especially considering the Lakers’ need for a backup point guard.

I will say that Milton is not as polished of a 1-guard as some of the other players who will be available at this point in the draft. Despite that, his basketball IQ, impressive stroke and athleticism all make him a tantalizing prospect Los Angeles simply can’t ignore.

Here’s the interview and footage from his recent workout with the Lakers:

With his skill-set, Milton can serve as a backup combo guard who can breathe life into the second unit, even as a rookie. He’s a dynamic offensive talent who can be a lights-out shooter (44.9 percent from the field, 43.4 percent from deep in 2017-18) or playmaker who can create opportunities for himself off the dribble.

Next: 2018 NBA Mock Draft - Final edition

Trust me — you won’t be disappointed if Milton is the pick at No. 25. The former Mustang is an excellent value at the end of the first round, capable of evolving into a dangerous two-way threat off the bench in a couple of years.