It was the Lakers’ turn, finally, 4 hours and 20 minutes into the NBA draft. It took a while to get there, the Lakers sitting out the first round because they sent the 28th pick to Memphis as part of the Pau Gasol trade, but they eventually selected Kentucky guard Joe Crawford with the 58th pick Thursday.
Crawford, 6 feet 4, averaged 17.9 points a game and shot 36.4% from three-point range in his senior season at Kentucky. Like every second-round pick, he does not get a guaranteed contract.
“We had him projected to be drafted a lot higher than 58,” Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. “He comes from a top-rate basketball program, used to playing in big games. He had a great career.”
