Watch highlights of Lakers draft pick Ryan Kelly playing for Duke
On Thursday night, the Lakers selected stretch-forward Ryan Kelly with the 48th pick in the 2013 NBA draft.
While Kelly is recovering from a second foot surgery, General Manager Mitch Kupchak said he was cleared last week to return to basketball activities. The Lakers may not bring him to Las Vegas for summer league but expect him to have a good summer of training in preparation for the season.
As a second-round pick, Kelly still has to make the Lakers’ roster, but given the team’s need for younger, inexpensive talent -- the 22-year old Duke Blue Devil has a real shot to make the squad in October.
As an example of Kelly’s shooting ability, in March he scored 36 points against the Miami Hurricanes on 10-of-14 shooting to lift Duke get a 79-76 victory.
In four NCAA tournament games Kelly averaged just 6.3 points on 30.3% shooting. Duke was ousted in the Elite Eight by Louisville.
On the Lakers, whether it’s with Dwight Howard and/or Pau Gasol -- not to mention Kobe Bryant -- Kelly could see a lot of open looks, given the chance.
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Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
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