2023 Mock Draft 2.0: Spurs roll the dice, Hornets win Wembanyama sweepstakes

Similar to Jackson, I think 17th overall to the Los Angeles Lakers will be the latest we see Baylor guard Keyonte George selected in the draft. While the Lakers have managed to turn their season around in a big way, seeing as they’re leading their playoff series 3 games to 1 against the Warriors as I type this, thinking toward the future will be just as important for the Lakers as finding someone that can contribute now.

Keyonte George will benefit in the league by not having too many offensive responsibilities early in his career. Not only would that be the case if he were to join the Lakers, but he’d also have the opportunity to study under LeBron James before taking on more offensive responsibilities in the future. And in the meantime, George can act as a spot-up threat away from the ball, fine-tune his playmaking to improve his turnover rate, and focus more on playing the hard-nosed defense that he’s fully capable of playing.

George struggled from an efficiency standpoint in his lone season at Baylor, but he’s a far better shooter than the stats likely suggest. If he can continue to improve as an athlete and playmaker, a Jamal Murray-like role could be a realistic long-term outcome for George. At 17th overall, even having the opportunity to take a chance on such a player should be seen as a big win for the Lakers.