The Los Angeles Lakers ended up keeping their Draft pick and selected with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 Draft, selecting Jalen Hood-Schifino out of Indiana.
Fans are excited to see what comes of this pick, but many are upset due to the team passing on Cam Whitmore, who has fallen from a projected top-five pick to the end of the first round.
Welcome to the Purple & Gold, Jalen Hood-Schifino! pic.twitter.com/DdMu3PKML9
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 23, 2023
Fans couldn’t believe that Whitmore was snubbed.
https://twitter.com/24IamTheGOAT8/status/1672061792086892544
Other fans supported the pick and said the reasons Whitmore is falling are legitimate.
https://twitter.com/nijigasakilove/status/1672062036069457921
Fans mocked other fans hoping Whitmore was picked.
Lakers fans thinking it was Cam Whitmore pic.twitter.com/MD89dNp2Qx
— Kevin Thang (@Skip2MyJays) June 23, 2023
Kevin O’Connor broke down what the Lakers are getting out of this pick.
Jalen Hood-Schifino is a nice add for the Lakers.
Gives LA another ball handler while retaining size on defense. It's important he improve as shooter (30.4% on spot-up 3s in college) but he has good touch from midrange and the line so it's a strong bet that he figures it out. pic.twitter.com/KoFeYPckaf
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) June 23, 2023
Fans are trusting Jesse and Joey Buss as scouts, given their positive hit rate finding players for LA.
Jesse and Joey don’t miss. If they think Jalen Hood-Schifino is the guy then he’s the guy. pic.twitter.com/aU8Tg7Kacr
— Laker Central (@LakerCentral365) June 23, 2023
JHS has great long-term potential, and Evan Sidery recognized the same, praising the Lakers for finding a player that can contribute now and be a big part of the team in the future.
Jalen Hood-Schifino to the Lakers is a great long-term landing spot for his development.
Hood-Schifino can play on or off-ball while possessing terrific defensive upside as well. Took a massive jump at Indiana this season.
Lakers might’ve just found their point guard of the…
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 23, 2023
In one season with the Indiana Hoosiers, Hood-Schifino was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team. He averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 0.8 steals per game, providing versatile scoring and instant defense to the Lakers.
His fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis is fascinating and gives the Lakers guard depth beyond free agents D’Angelo Russell, Dennis Schroder, and Austin Reaves.
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