The NBA draft cycle is over and teams head into free agency while organizations move to fill out the end of their rosters with undrafted players. In the ongoing search for diamond-in-the-rough talents, the Lakers came to terms with MAC Player of the Year Peter Suder on a two-way contract.
He brings size as a 6’4 guard with three-level scoring ability and flashed real playmaking chops. He averaged 14.8 points, 4 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game during his senior year at Miami University in Ohio,
leading the RedHawks to a 31-0 regular season record. Suder led the team in points and was second in assists and third in rebounds.
With Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves at the helm, playmaking is fully indexed for. The key is finding players who can exploit compromised defenses, with a focus on those who operate lethally off the ball.
Suder sets up as an interesting potential piece. While at low volume at just under three attempts per game, he hit 42% on 3-pointers on a wide array of smooth-looking jumpers. He showed the ability to comfortably fire from distance on the catch, move and even off the dribble in instances.
In the clip shown below, his teammate drives a closeout while he relocates to the top of the key. Watch his textbook square up while back-stepping, simultaneously setting up his footwork. Locked and loaded on the catch for the long range three.
His best outing of the season was a 37-point performance over Buffalo in overtime, where he hit seven shots beyond the arc. Suder topped it off with a last-second go-ahead basket off the dribble three to seal the victory.
“At the NBA level, I’m going to give those guys who make the money a bunch of space,” Suder said in a predraft interview. “I’m going to space the floor well. I’m going to be a knock-down shooter for them.”
Suder brings a real flair to his passing game. He connects on flashy dimes to his teammates and makes quick, decisive reads as a primary and secondary creator. In the clip below, he patiently watches as the play unfolds before perfectly whipping the ball to the open cutter for an easy finish.
His passing showed his versatility as a connector. Quick-hitting hockey assists keep the offense in a flow. He bridges that with timely pocket passes on the pick and roll or skip pass reads to the opposite corner. The foundation is there to contribute as an offensive guard playmaker.
Listed at 213 pounds, he leverages his strength to get to the basket and bully other guards. In the clip below, he collects the inbound pass and drives through the chest of his defender and scores at the basket. The handle and finishing aren’t creative or flashy, but they have a base for potential development in the league.
As with any offensive guard, the question marks remain on the defensive end. Some positives were his frame and high IQ, helping him average 1.3 steals per game over his college career. He lives in passing lanes and disrupts opposing offenses with smart timing decisions.
He’s also a strong rebounder for a guard with a high motor, picking up 1.4 offensive rebounds per game and fighting down low on defensive glass.
Suder projects as a knockdown shooter for a Lakers team that can’t have enough, but will clearly need to show he can keep the percentage at a much higher volume. His finishing and handling will be tested by NBA-level defense around him, and how he fares remains to be seen.
An interesting two-way player that projects as a hopeful offensive threat, but Suder knows the other side is where his minutes come from.
“The main part is I’m going to have to earn my respect on defense,” Suder said in the aforementioned interview. “They’re just going to try and isolate me. I know my stereotype in the NBA. I got to earn my respect on defense, hit the catch and shoot three at a high level, and that’s how I earn my spot.”
You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu.
