2021 NBA Mock Draft — 22. Jared Butler, Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers get instant offense and a lift at the point guard position, which could get dangerously thin if Dennis Schroder decides to chase greener pastures. Jared Butler was one of the best guards in college basketball, and having been recently cleared to play after a heart condition threatened his career, he should have no shortage of first-round suitors.
Butler can play on or off-ball, with the kind of volume-shooting upside that should satisfy the Lakers. LeBron James will absolve him of any high-level playmaking burden, but his experience (and the Lakers’ thin backcourt) would give him a chance to contribute from day one.
In addition to his scoring and ball-handling, Butler does the little things well, too. He hustles and defends the point of attack effectively, even if his 6-foot-3 frame is a natural inhibitor. The Lakers have size to spare, though, and Butler is the exact kind of prospect contenders (and NBA stars with influence over a franchise) love.