28. Los Angeles Lakers: Isaiah Hartenstein, Zalgiris
Position: Power Forward
Age: 19 (5/5/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 7’1.25″, 250 pounds, 7’2.25″
2016-17 Slash Line: .490/.276/.698
2016-17 Season Averages: 11.6 MPG, 4.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 0.8 ORPG, 0.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG
The Los Angeles Lakers have promising players who have shown immediate value at four of the five positions. D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson are formidable playmakers who are capable of running point, Josh Jackson and Brandon Ingram can anchor the wings on both ends of the floor, and Julius Randle is a physical force at power forward.
The missing piece is a center who can protect the rim and provide value offensively, and that’s where international phenom and versatile big man Isaiah Hartenstein can excel at the next level.
Hartenstein is a modern big man in the sense that he can space the floor with a consistently improving 3-point shot. He’s not the stereotypical European big man, however, as he’s displayed the willingness to attack the teeth of a defense and embrace the physicality of the game.
For the Lakers, the combination of Randle’s powerful frame and Hartenstein’s shooting proficiency would enable the offense to flow with a necessary measure of versatility.
Defensively, Hartenstein has shown an ability to use his 7’1” frame, 7’2” wingspan, and 9’1” standing reach to contest shots at the rim. He isn’t yet consistent in that regard, nor is he the most stable rebounder, but his 250-pound frame should fill out and enable him to throw his weight around.
Hartenstein may not have immediate value on either end of the floor, but he has upside for Luke Walton to explore—upside that could make he and Ivica Zubac the ultimate combination at center.