Los Angeles Lakers: Power ranking team’s top 5 players right now

5. Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk

Despite the post-draft buzz, I don’t think many people expected a big performance from Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk during Summer League. Well, that was exactly that they got, and Lakers fans couldn’t have been happier.

With Svi being a second round pick back in June, analysis of the selection was hot and cold. On one side, it was a great move because the Lakers needed some outside shooting. On the other side, it was a wasted pick because Mykhailiuk didn’t offer enough defense or athleticism to make it in the NBA. Well, as we saw during Summer League, those things weren’t concerns.

Obviously, there’s a big gap in talent between Summer League and the regular season. That’s why there’s a very good chance Mykhailiuk doesn’t see a ton of minutes as a rookie. However, at this very moment, his stock is trending upward because, frankly, he’s shown more skill than his draft status would suggest.

Hence, his inclusion in the No. 5 slot of the Lakers’ offseason power rankings.

Mykhailiuk’s ceiling isn’t all that high. Chances are he’ll top out as a quality bench piece who can provide 3-point sharpshooting and leadership for the second unit. Considering all the Lakers gave up for him was a second round pick, though, I’d say it was a wise investment.