Thon Maker (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
Thon Maker is a prospect the Los Angeles Lakers could consider in the second round, but only if the high-schooler is still available for picking using the 32nd pick.
The Lakers are in a great position to pick one of the most talented youngsters in the 2016 free agency class after luckily winning the second overall pick in the draft lottery. With the No. 2 pick almost guarantee a talented youngster, the Lakers could shift their focus on who to select with their 32nd pick.
Since the 2012 draft, the second round has produced an All-Star in Draymond Green and talented key players like Jae Crowder, Will Barton, Allan Crabbe and Josh Richardson, implying that the Lakers should be cautious and decisive with their pick. One player the Purple and Gold should consider monitoring is Thon Maker, a talented youngster who has plenty of upside, but has a long way to go before becoming an effective player in the league.
Maker has all the physical tools NBA teams are looking for on a big man. At 7-foot-1, the 19-year-old Sudanese-Australian can become an effective offensive weapon in the paint, thanks to his incredible 33" vertical and 9'3" wingspan. He could also serve as a rim-protector and anchor the defense using his length and mobility, an impressive for a 7-footer.
However, as intriguing as Maker looks, there are also many weaknesses in his game. As noted by Denzel Valentine of SB Nation's Denver Stiffs, Maker lacks offensive and defensive instincts despite possessing potential to become a scoring machine inside the paint. There is also the need to develop Maker's shooting shot, which Valentine described as "far from textbook."
Another notable weakness is Maker's skinny frame, although he could he the gym often to develop his muscles needed to endure the physicality of the NBA.
For the Lakers, drafting someone like Maker may not be too bad of a decision, considering that the team needs more depth at the center position. The only concern selecting Maker would be if the Lakers are willing to nurture him to be an elite center, which contradicts the franchise's win-now mentality following two dismal seasons.
But if the Lakers show interest in drafting the Orangeville product, they could only hope Maker is available until the 32nd pick. According to Basketball Insiders' latest mock draft, Maker is projected to get drafted by either the Toronto Raptors at No. 27, Phoenix Suns at No. 28 or the San Antonio Spurs at No. 29.
If somehow those teams are uninterested to land such prospect, the Lakers may find themselves another gem in the second round and their next star center in the making.
"If I'm playing behind LaMarcus Aldridge or Blake Griffin, my opportunity is limited to spot minutes because those guys have experience and are allstars. If I go to a team where I'm needed I'll be ready from day one," Maker said.
