Los Angeles Lakers: 5 options for pick No. 4 in 2019 NBA Draft

4. Cam Reddish

Everyone except Magic Johnson knows the formula for success with LeBron James on offense. Put the ball in his hands, surround him with shooters and let him go to work. Kirk Goldsberry notes in his 2019 book Sprawlball that no player has had more 3-point assists over the past decade than James.

Last year the Lakers did not do that, and it certainly hurt them. While Rob Pelinka is a near guarantee to chase shooting in free agency, the Lakers could also elect to add it in the draft. The highest-upside shooter in the lottery is Cam Reddish out of Duke.

Reddish was supposed to be the complete package. As a knockdown shooter who could handle and was athletic enough to hold up on defense, he was the bona fide third star coming into the season for Duke. Instead he proved mercurial and maddeningly inconsistent, showing up for big shots against teams such as Florida State and Louisville and disappearing for long stretches in between.

If the Lakers believe they can kickstart his motor (Frank Vogel and Jason Kidd both have strong track records of teams playing hard) then he has the shot mechanics and skill-set to thrive. He could easily become a starter on the wing knocking down shots off of James and Lonzo Ball passes. He could also flame out and never put it all together.

At No. 4 there will probably be better options, and there will certainly be safer ones. Yet there is something about Reddish that suggests he can pull things together, and if he does, he will be a great selection with the fourth pick. They may not get one Duke player, but there is plenty of talent coming out of Durham this year.