The 2022 NBA Draft presented many good players that can do interesting things in the league. Paolo Banchero took the No. 1 overall pick after the Orlando Magic selected him to kick off the draft, while Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith closed out the top 3.
There was more interesting stuff during the night, like Christian Braun’s mom stealing the show thanks to her beauty, but also, we saw the sons of two NBA legends trying to make it to the league through the draft. Scotty Pippen Jr. and Shareef O’Neal didn’t hear their names called by commissioner Adam Silver, but this isn’t the end of the dream for them.
In fact, they will join one of the most honored franchises in the league, the Los Angeles Lakers, but now it’s time to prove that they deserve a spot in the association. First, Scotty signed a two-way deal with the Purple and Gold, meaning he will share his time with the NBA squad but most likely with the G League team. This has worked for the Lakers before, as they developed Alex Caruso this way.
BREAKING: Scotty Pippen Jr. has signed a two-way deal with the Lakers, via @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/9bRxYS9aXN
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 24, 2022
On the other hand, they signed Shareef O’Neal to their Summer League squad, which will offer a new chance to O’Neal to earn a spot in the league or maybe get a contract similar to Pippen’s.
BREAKING: Shareef O'Neal will play in the summer league with the Lakers. 🔥
(via @ShamsCharania) pic.twitter.com/36tbD4yhIO
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 24, 2022
These two aren’t expected to have the same careers their fathers had, but they can be solid players in the league and help franchises get wins and compete for important things. Of course, they can always develop and become a menace for opponents, but as things stand right now, they’ll have to prove their value and not only with their last names.
If the Lakers keep developing these players as they did with Caruso, Talen Horton-Tucker and more recently Austin Reaves, they could have a solid core in the future.
