Lakers’ best options for No. 17 pick in 2024 NBA Draft https://t.co/8HI5YcV8wx
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) June 19, 2024
A stretch five
The ideal pairing next to Anthony Davis in the frontcourt is a center who can protect the rim and stretch the floor. Enter Dayton’s DaRon Holmes II. Holmes II was excellent in his three seasons with the Flyers but especially so last year. He averaged a career-best 25.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per-40 minutes with a 62.7% true shooting percentage and and 58.4% effective field goal percentage.
Is DaRon Holmes’ landing spot one of the most anticipated in the 2024 NBA Draft? 👀
6’10” | 236 lbs | 21 years old | C – @DaytonMBB
◦20.4 PTS, 8.5 REB, 2.6 AST, 0.9 STL, 2.1 BLK
◦54.4 FG% 38.6 3PT% 71.3 FT%
◦33 Games, 32.5 MINOne of the top center prospects in this draft… pic.twitter.com/o6x8W8xV95
— No Ceilings (@NoCeilingsNBA) June 17, 2024
He has a similar play style to a Myles Turner or a current version of Al Horford. The Lakers need just about everything those two provide their respective teams, so that should be music to their ears. They have been lacking a solid backup center for the last three seasons and have never featured a true stretch five next to Anthony Davis since he got there.
Holmes fixes all of those problems. He can shine in big lineups with Davis and LeBron James and can hold down the fort when Davis needs a breather. Holmes isn’t the flashiest name, but there aren’t many players who would fit the Lakers’ roster better than he can with the 17th pick.
There are a half dozen quality bigs between #15 and #25 in this draft and DaRon Holmes is the guy I hope the Lakers are targeting.
Holmes reminds me a lot of a guy I was super high on last summer, which was Naz Reid. DaRon has the same quick and high release easy 3-ball that Naz Reid and Kegan Murray both have.
You need to pair AD with a stretch five rather than a traditional five. It gets you size, spacing on O, and rim protection on D. Holmes is a true 4/5 and has the mobility and lateral movement to switch everything.
While AD needs the second big to be able to stretch the court, LBJ needs second big to be able to switch everything so he doesn’t have to chase shooters around screens. Instead, he just switches.
That’s why Holmes is the ideal fit. He still allows AD to play some 4, gives him more spacing, helps protect the rim and switch everything, and gives Lakers more size, length, shooting, and defense.
While I agree in principle, I have concerns. All of these stretch 3’s weight between 225 and 230. Jackson Hayes was just a little over 220. While a stretch big works for a lot of the league, there are a few monsters in the league. Guys like the Joker and Embid come to mind. AD would still be the guy to guard them. Rui weighs 230 and I doubt any of the candidates are stronger than him. The Joker was still able to back him into the paint. This crop of candidates would not solve that problem.
The dilemma is the Lakers need to have a big bruiser center to matchup against Joker, Sabonis, and Embiid types but they also need a stretch big like Brook Lopez or Naz Reid to pair with Anthony Davis for proper spacing.
There are several candidates who have promise.
Edey is a player who could develop into a better version of Brook Lopez. What sets him apart imo is his aggressiveness. He takes 8 free throws per game and shoots a solid 70+%. Has 3-ball potential. Could be great as backup center until he develops more.
Ware is a Myles Turner clone and Holmes is a Naz Reid clone. Both can shoot the 3-ball and protect the rim. Holmes has the additional ability to defend in space. Both would be excellent defenders who could play with AD in a two-bigs lineup.
Filipowski is another big who is an excellent 3-ball shooter and pick-and-pop center prospect. He’s more of an offensive option than defensive option but could end up being a great stretch five.
Then there are other prospects like lefty Tyler Smith who could be perfect 3&D additions for Lakers. It will be interesting to see which way the Lakers go. I do think they want to draft a backup center but it depends on who’s available.
Other option imo is trading back to get two first round picks as there are some good players in the second half of the first round that could help the Lakers.