Summer League offers the first look at rookies. A draft heralded as one of the best in years may also include a Laker selection when it’s all said and done.
In a trade with the New York Knicks, LA moved up to the 24th pick to select Cameron Carr. In a short amount of time, Carr showed a full repertoire of NBA-ready skills and a tantalizing athletic profile, quickly stealing the hearts of Laker fans.
On a roster clearly lacking wing talent, Carr projects as a two-way producer with a real opportunity
to earn a spot in head coach JJ Redick’s rotation.
His offensive game revolves around a unique ability to shoot the basketball from any spot on the floor. He combines textbook shot mechanics with detailed footwork to cleanly square up and fulfill his versatile shot profile.
LA’s Summer League roster is bereft of top-level ballhandlers, leaving a lot of work for Carr to create his own. In the clip below against the Thunder, Carr receives a step-up screen with the opposing defender in deep drop coverage. Operating as the ballhandler, he pulls up and punishes the space given by the scheme.
He’s shown a nice handle, the skill to maneuver in ball screens and the ability to get to his spot and athletically rise up. Watch below as the Baylor product runs a pick and roll with teammate Adou Theiro, a duo that’s gained nice synergy so far, and gets to the free throw line extended area on the floor.
A veteran pump fake freezes the defender and Carr rises to hit a patented mid-range pull-up, showcasing the untouchable 7-foot wingspan.
Joining a team with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves as the lead backcourt, along with Collin Sexton as the backup guard, leaves Carr without many on-ball responsibilities or opportunities.
Carr’s real compelling case for minutes on the team lies in his being a potentially elite off-ball wing. He’s a hand-in-glove fit for Redick, who’s consistently stressed the value of having a movement shooter in the lineup.
LA ran him off numerous actions throughout Summer League to get him open as a shooter. One of the main screens used to free him was a pindown, allowing Carr to curl into position to receive the entry pass, as shown below.
With the defender in a lock-and-trail position, he tightly curls off the screen to catch and fire in one motion.
In the next action, he comes off a wide pin down. He uses his athletic profile and handle to take advantage of the defender out of position. A quick triple threat fake gets him a step and he finishes above the rim.
In four Summer League contests, Carr is averaging 17 points per game and shooting 37% on 3-point attempts, including a five-point performance in which he did not play the second half in California.
The other side of the ball is where there’s just as much untapped potential. The wingspan and athletic ability enable electrifying perimeter blocks. In actions where most players would be at the mercy of the offensive player, Carr’s ability to quickly recover makes for a high ceiling.
So far, he’s averaged a block per night in four games. Watch below in the out-of-bounds play as he gets screened twice by the big man and yet still manages to recover to block the 3-point attempt.
The mix of block shots and threes is a unique combination, even more so for a perimeter-based wing. Carr was the only D-1 player with over 70 3-point field goals made and over 40 blocks last season.
There’s still a ton of room to grow for the Lakers’ most recent draft selection. Passing reads need tightening, off-ball defense can be cleaned up with more focus and he’s admitted a need to add muscle in the weight room.
With that being said, while it’s early and Summer League isn’t a perfect predictor by any means, it appears the Lakers got a steal in the draft and a player that could potentially contribute immediately.
You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu.
