They were great in the Summer League, now time to show it in training camp.
HoopsWorld: The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t pick in the first round of the NBA Draft but General Manager Mitch Kupchak had two second-round selections to work with. At 43, the Lakers chose small forward Devin Ebanks and at 58 they added power forward Derrick Caracter.
Ebanks, at 6’9″, 215 pounds, is a rangy, perimeter defender who can slash and cut. Historically he’s a poor three-point shooter but in the early games of the Las Vegas Summer League, Devin has shown an improved stroke.
With an uncanny resemblance to former Laker Trevor Ariza, Ebanks may get the opportunity to play a similar role off the bench for the Lakers.
“Everybody says that [about Ariza] but I’m just trying to play like Devin Ebanks. Everybody says I look like him and we but I’m just trying to focus on me,” said the Ebanks.
Caracter is a little undersized at 6’9″ but listed at 265 he’s got a lot of body despite losing a considerable amount of weight.
Derrick has been an NBA prospect since high school before struggling to live up the hype at the college level. He’s looking forward to putting those days behind him.
“With a last name like mine, they’ll never forget about the character issues. Some say it’s good; some say it’s bad,” said Derek. “What’s most important is that my family and friends know who I am. I just go out here and prove to these people that I’m here and I’m here to stay. I just take one day at a time.”
Both Ebanks and Caracter have to make the squad. As second-rounders, their contracts won’t necessarily be guaranteed initially by the Lakers.
“For second-round picks they played well. That’s what summer league is for to see what they can do,” said Kupchak. “A lot of times if they play well at summer league what that really means is that they’re worthy of an invitation to veteran’s camp. So that’s what they’re trying to do right now, get invited to veteran’s camp and so far so good.”
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