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The Los Angeles Lakers made an intriguing trade with the NBA champion New York Knicks on the first night of the NBA Draft, sending the No. 25 pick to New York for the No. 24 selection.
The Lakers used their new selection to draft former Baylor star guard Cameron Carr. Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Sweeney is clearly a fan of the pick, as he provided the Lakers with a near-perfect grade for it.
“Carr had interest all the way up into the late lottery, but slipped into the 20s and the Lakers moved up a spot to make sure they got him,” Sweeney wrote Wednesday. “He has elite three-and-D potential if he continues to add strength and improve his focus on the defensive end because the tools athletically are elite.”
“This pick could age well if the Lakers have some patience; Carr was a late bloomer and exploded last season at Baylor. Grade: A-."
Sweeney’s assessment of Carr and his NBA future couldn’t be more accurate. The 21-year-old rookie is an alluring vertical athlete who’s effective in the open floor as well as in the half-court.
Add in the fact that Carr’s off-ball movement, three-point shooting prowess, and shot blocking chops at 6-foot-5 are also noticeable strengths, and it truly wouldn’t be far-fetched to suggest the Lakers made a home run selection near the end of the first round of the draft.
Carr averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game with the Bears this past season, shooting 49.4% from the field and 37.4% from beyond the arc.
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