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The Los Angeles Lakers may have only purchased one pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, but they’re not done adding rookies to their roster just yet. According to Jonathan Givony of ESPN, the Lakers will sign undrafted 6’7” center Devontae Cacok of UNC Wilmington to an Exhibit 10 deal, which would allow them to either convert his deal into a two-way contract, or give him a bonus if he goes into training camp, is cut, and joins their G League team.
And for those wondering: No, “6’7” center” was not a typo. While clearly undersized for a big man, Cacok’s numbers hold up with the rest of his peers.
Through 31 starts for the Seahawks, the 22-year-old senior averaged 15.2 points on 58.9 percent shooting from the field, all while grabbing 12.3 rebounds per game. Not only has Cacok led the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in field goal percentage for the last three seasons, but he’s also the all-time CAA leader in field goal percentage (63.9 percent). Additionally, Cacok led the NCAA in total rebound percentage (24.4 percent).
However, as many notable accolades as he has, there’s a reason he went undrafted.
Like most athletic, high-motor big men, Cacok struggles to defend in space and he has an especially hard time defending without fouling. In two of the four years Cacok spent at UNC Wilmington, he led the CAA in personal fouls. If he wants to stick at the next level, he’s going to have to improve leaps and bounds on the defensive end.
Offensively is where he has the most potential. While Cacok can throw down slam dunks with the best of them, he also has a nice, soft touch around the rim. He’s also shown the ability to be a pick-and-pop threat from inside the 3-point line. If he can extend his range behind the arc, his ceiling will get a nice boost.
Lakers fans will likely get their first look at Cacok and second-round draft pick Talen Horton-Tucker at the California Classic NBA Summer League Tournament in July, and after that in Las Vegas Summer League. Expect more additions to the summer league roster in the coming days.
All stats are courtesy of sports-reference.com. For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. You can follow Christian on Twitter at @RadRivas.