Lakers News: Writers Break Down Objectives For Rookie LA Draft Pick

Keeping it simple!

Jalen Hood-Schifino certainly has it much easier than first-round picks who were guards selected by the Los Angeles Lakers. The likes of D'Angelo Russell and Lonzo were tasked with starting roles off the jump and even though that's something any rookie would love, playing for the Lakers means results are expected quick. Russell and Ball both had rough patches that were necessary for growth in their careers but the front office ended up deciding they'd be better off elsewhere.

Fino enters his rookie year on an LA squad that is viewed as one of the best teams in the Western Conference. They already have Russell manning the point guard position with Gabe Vincent projected to play backup to him to start off the year. Therefore, the former Indiana Hoosier will likely spend majority of his time in the G-League and be added to the main roster when necessary.

We saw a lot of Fino in the summer league as he handled the ball plenty next to Max Christie and it's clear that above all else, the three-point shot needs work. Columnist Robert Marvi likes midrange game but believes that deep jumper will be necessary for him to stay on the court.

"Hood-Schifino has a very solid midrange game, especially off the dribble, and that skill set will help him succeed in the NBA. But for him to get to a higher level of success, he will need to also become a good outside shooter. In his lone season at Indiana, he shot 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. He showed a bit of overall improvement during NBA Summer League, but he was inconsistent with his shooting in general, and he endured some ugly offensive outings. Hood-Schifino improving his outside shot will likely open up his midrange game, as opponents wouldn’t be able to cheat off him."

(Via LeBron Wire)

In the modern NBA, every point guard needs to be able to hit open shots and hold their own on defense. Fino has great size and physical tools so I doubt he'll be able to get targeted on defense and just pushed around.

Marvi also talked about how he could follow Christie's footsteps and just remain patient in the G-League for now.

"The Lakers have a four-guard rotation set, and that means, barring injury, Hood-Schifino will likely get little playing time for the time being. Assuming that scenario becomes reality, perhaps some time down in the G League will do him some good, just as it did for Max Christie. There are plenty of stars currently in the NBA that took a while to emerge and didn’t even play much as rookies. That’s something Hood-Schifino can look at if he ever gets frustrated at the pace of his progression and integration into L.A.’s rotation."

(Via LeBron Wire)

He could very well end up being the point guard of the future for the Lakers but for now, there is no rush at all!

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