As we wrapped up 5 games of the Summer League showcase in Las Vegas, the Lakers’ draft picks have been in rare form for everyone to see.
For much of the summer league, Devin Ebanks & Derrick Caracter hold the number 1 and 2 spot in the NBA’s Rookie Rankings, respectively.
Ebanks, a 6-9 small forward, was the 43rd pick in the 2010 draft last month. Coming out of West Virginia, he was known as a bit of a defensive stopper.
But he’s shown a bit of a scorer’s mentality in these four games of the summer league. He’s logged in 2 games for 20-plus points and another for 12.
I believe what caught my attention was his ability to perform a step-back jumper. He performed it quite often, particularly in the first 3 games. Another key in the summer league for Ebanks was his 3-point shooting. Averaging 45 percent from the arc, its evident he could be reliable on a catch-and-shoot basis.
His game is certainly reminiscent of former Lakers forward Trevor Ariza. His athletic build and long arms can help provide matchup advantages for the already lengthy Laker team.
His downside may be his strength. He’s not a guy who’s going to out-muscle players like LeBron James, Gerald Wallace, or even Blake Griffin. But he still shows he can keep up with the small forward and shooting guard spot as well as anyone in summer league.
Next: Derrick Caracter
