3 prospects the Lakers can't afford to pass on in the NBA Draft

2) Tristan da Silva | Forward | Colorado

Tristan da Silva is about as ready-made as they come. Averaging 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, da Silva led the Colorado Buffaloes to an appearance in the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.

A skilled shooter, da Silva shot 39.5 percent from deep last season. While he's overly gifted in creating his own shot, he wouldn't be asked to do so with the Lakers. Where da Silva thrives is off the catch, off handoffs, and off screens. Alongside LeBron James, da Silva is potentially the perfect complimentary offensive player.

While da Silva's shooting is rightfully exciting, the case against him is apparent. At 23 years of age, da Silva is among the oldest players in this draft. Not only is his age a concern, but his lack of athleticism also limits his ceiling significantly. While da Silva was a fine defender at the collegiate level, his lack of lateral quickness could prove a significant difference in the NBA's switch-heavy defensive culture.

No prospect is without their warts. Considering what the Lakers need out of the 17th pick, da Silva checks off enough boxes to be sure he would be a knockout of a pick. LA needs someone who can simply drain catch-and-shoot threes off LeBron dribble-drives, and da Silva would be among the best players in this draft in that role.