NBA Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers Projected To Pick Michigan State Point Guard

With the Los Angeles Lakers on pace to make a deep playoff run, the anticipation is relatively lower than it had been in the previous years with regards to the upcoming NBA Draft. But despite them missing out on the top prospects in the class, the Lakers are still projected to select a decent point guard in Michigan State’s Cassius Winston.

Based on a mock draft simulated using FanSpeak’s On the Clock NBA Mock Draft Simulator, Winston would be picked by the Lakers at 29^th overall.

It is to be noted that the order of selection was based on the NBA standings prior to its suspension in March. The Lakers registered a league second-best record of 49 wins and 14 losses., which likewise placed them at the top of the Western Conference.

"Cassius Winston is a very exciting prospect and is someone who could come into the NBA and give the Lakers valuable minutes off the bench right away,” Jason Reed of The Lake Show Life wrote.

“Winston, a 6’1″ point guard, is a bit undersized but has the tools to succeed in the Lakers’ offensive system. He is a great facilitator and was really good in the fastbreak for Michigan State, something that is prevalent to the Los Angeles Lakers.”

Winston is one of the rare prospects who boast a fine four-year college basketball experience heading to the NBA Draft - something that analysts believe could do wonders for the Lakers.

“A collegiate player who has four years of experience is huge for a team like the Lakers. These players typically have smaller ceilings than one-and-done type players but can often reach a productive level quicker. Look at how quickly Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart contributed in LA, while it took Brandon Ingram longer to reach that level and beyond with a higher ceiling,” Reed added.

“What makes Winston a good fit for the Lakers is that he is someone who could provide the team a second ball-handler and facilitator if the Lakers look to move on from Rajon Rondo, which is not the worst idea in the world.”

In four seasons as a Spartan, Winston averaged 14.2 points, 6.4 assists, and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 46.1% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc. It was during his junior year when he took his game to a higher gear as he posted 18.8 points and 7.5 assists while playing close to 34 minutes per outing. In his last year, the 22-year-old was able to sustain his decent showing, putting up 18.6 points, 5.9 assists, and 2.5 rebounds a game.