Marvin Bagley III is already raising his hand as one of the top rookies
Though the Los Angeles Lakers are 4-9, it's worth remembering that last season they won just 15 games. More to the point, an overtime home loss to the Clippers, a narrow four point loss to Houston, and outrageous home cooking against Utah all translated into single digit losses that, if flipped, would have the Purple and Gold above .500 and in the playoff conversation at 7-6.
One of the key parts to this improvement has been 19 year old rookie big man Marvin Bagley III, selected 2nd overall. Despite occasional bouts of foul trouble limiting his minutes, the U20 phenom is averaging 12.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks with 5 double-doubles at 50.7% from the floor - which makes him #3 in scoring, #2 in rebounds, #5 in blocks, #4 in FG% and #1 in double-doubles in the rookie class, lapping his closest competitor in the last category by 2.5 times. In fact, he's just 1 double-double behind the top 6 current double-double leaders in the entire CSL.
The Rookie of the Year campaign is already starting in earnest for the player most scouts and analysts considered "the most talented prospect in the entire draft class, but raw". A strong training camp showed the still-teenager far more seasoned than anyone predicted, and he's showing it on the court.
With early indications showing he's every bit the franchise player in the making the Lakers hoped for, the front office has opened up the rest of their roster to trade discussions, and despite a bevy of young talent, the response has been ...crickets. We'll examine four of the premiere non-Bagley youth on the roster, their play on the team, and why they might not be receiving any interest.
PG/SG/SF Emmanuel Mudiay (23)
Lighting up the court after being installed as the team's point guard following his move to SoCal in a trade with Utah, the Congolese 23 year old has put on some stellar games early this season, earning Player of the Game honors in 2 of the team's wins and would have notched a third had the Lakers beaten that other LA team last night. For the season, he's averaging 15.5 points 4 assists, shooting 40.8% from the floor and 33.3% from downtown. Defensively he's averaging almost a block and a steal per game with a 92.1% drive stop rate. 1.8 TOFC, and a sterling 0.9 PA/SF.
An Outside Scout's Take
He's still the dynamic, explosive two-way guard we saw at the end of last season. His work on his defense over the summer has paid off tremendously - last season he was in the 80% DSR, and wasn't forcing turnovers as well as he is now. The shot still needs work, but there's reason to believe he'll get there.
Why There's No Interest
Eyebrows went up around the league when the team signed him to a $12 million base contract on 5 years, albeit with minimum raises and a TO. Teams still aren't convinced of his valuation until they see the shot improve more consistently. Draws comparisons to Brandon Knight, though Mudiay is taller, a superior defender, and offers more positional flexibility.
PG/SG Austin Rivers (25)
Amazed everyone by starting last season among the league leaders in assists as the Purple and Gold's only genuinely viable floor general option. Then when he came back from injury the last few games of the season, he and Mudiay paired together in the backcourt as they are now and continued to show promise for the team's future. Thus far this year, he's averaging a team-high 17.8 points and 4.3 assists, shooting 42.9% from the floor and downtown, showing last season's 42% mark from long-range was no fluke. Defensively, he posted a drive stop rate in the 70s - a feat he's replicating this year at 70.3% with an eye-popping 0.84 PA/SF ratio.
An Outside Scout's Take
I'm continuously mystified at how little respect this dude gets. The Indiana Pacers dumped him for free, he got snubbed in the Most Improved Player of the Year voting, and in his first big free agency, he had to settle for returning to the Lakers on a team-beautiful 5 year contract with TO that pays him a flat-rate $6.5 million, just like Shabazz Napier. Metrics bear out that he's a better defender than you think, and he's one of those rare 3 point gunners who will actually shoot the ball. He's demonstrated that he's a true combo guard - able to play the 1 and the 2 equally effectively. And he's only 25.
Why There's No Interest
Rivers is admittedly one of the CSL's biggest assholes - the kind of guy you love on your team because he's a dick and hate if he's not on your team because he's a dick. That's literally the only reason. He otherwise checks off every box you want in a combo guard - can play both spots, is a gunner from 3 point range with elite accuracy, and his defense appears better than advertised.
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Team insiders say they only plan on dealing one of Mudiay or Rivers if either one. "We're certainly open to offers," one official said on condition they not be named. "They're both talented young players and we're frankly shocked no one has at least asked about them. But we're also fine going forward with them - we can pick up a wing in the draft or free agency and move Austin to a 6th man 32 minute combo guard role."
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PF/CE Christian Wood (26)
13.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game at 46.9% might be lower stats than what scouts are used to seeing from the former UNLV star, but he's contending with Bagley, Mudiay, Rivers, and another player for scoring, rebounding, or both categories of touches. 0.97 PA/SF is likewise adequate and at this stage of his career, he's become what he is - a young, capable starter who can contribute in several areas with a signature of being one of the CSL's best offensive rebounders.
An Outside Scout's Take
I feel bad for Wood in a different way than I do Rivers. He played for one of the league's consistently great teams in the Kings, then told the Lakers to fuck off in free agency and signed with the always good but never elite Memphis Grizzlies, then got stuck playing in LA anyway. And with each successive move to a worse team, perception of his value dropped lower and lower, even though he's been the same damn player on all three teams and even though he's still just 25.
Why There's Been No Interest
Unlike the two guards, there has been interest. One team has long pursued Wood but has no assets that would fit both sides, another doesn't have the finances to make it work, a third made an absurd offer that demanded the Pacers 2024 1st on top before they changed direction into mortgaging their future, and a fourth made an offer that the front office considered, but ultimately declined due to poor fit and below value. Wood's $15 million expiring contract makes finance matching difficult and the Lakers are also taking into account what impact moving him will have on their finances.
PF/C Cheick Diallo (22)
From 2nd round afterthought pick to training camp sensation to starter to benched to starter to 6th man experiencing a meteoric early season. Diallo is averaging 16.5 points (8.6 last year) 7.2 rebounds (6 last year), and 2 steals (0.7 last year), shooting 55% (46.5 last year) - oh and have we mentioned the 2.2 TOFC all in just 25.8 minutes a game?. Also with a respectable 0.91 PA/SF. The fabled third year leap definitely applies to Diallo and he's staking his claim to a potential double of Most Improved Player and 6th Man of the Year in the same season.
An Outside Scout's Take
Arguably the single greatest 2nd round pick in CSL history. How he's flourished in LA has been incredible. But he's furious at Erik Spoelstra's limiting his minutes for two straight seasons and he wants to go somewhere he can be a starter again. The front office doesn't want to part with him, because he's loved within the organization and amongst the fans, but he wants out and is threatening to walk in summer, so they want a return for him.
Why There's Been No Interest
Fear that he'll walk from his new team on the open market or arrogance that they can outbid other suitors for his services. Realistically, we can't think of a single reason why he hasn't attracted any attention, especially with the third-year breakout.
Will Any of Them Actually Move?
As it stands, no. This is a situation where the team can be perfectly content waiting for the right wing to offset the Mudiay/Rivers backcourt into a three-headed dragon, cheerfully take the massive cap space windfall offered by Wood's expiring, and fight to keep Diallo this summer by promising him a starting role once Wood is gone.
Could Any of Them Actually Move?
It's certainly possible, but perhaps not plausible, given the market is busy chasing other targets, including older vets that are normally toxic according to most front offices.
