Jordan Farmar Becomes A Laker

It is a dream come true for Jordan Farmer. He grew up in LA. He became a local LA high school phenom at Taft High. He then decided to stay local and go to college at UCLA. In his second year he leads his team to the college championship final. Then the miracle of all miracles, he gets drafted by the LA Lakers and gets to play along side Kobe. They are probably still trying to revive him.

To be honest with you, when the Lakers pick finally came up there was two tall shooting guards still on the boards. I felt the Lakers would probably pick Maurice Ager who fell to Dallas at 28. He was sloted to be gone in the mid first round. But a lot of bigs went early and there was actually a glut of guards still available late in the first round. So I knew the Lakers were going to get somebody good. James White was still there who is also a taller shooting guard. In the end the Lakers went with a true point guard.

Early in the draft process Jordan was slotted as a late first rounder. As the reports from workouts came out he started to move up. Then came the competitive workouts in Orlando, where all of the best players were invited, took place. Jordan actually was one of the standouts in Orlando, and his stock rose to about the 18 - 20 pick.

So why did the Lakers take him. Well, as a two year player, he is only 19 years old, so he has time and can actually get better. He plays point guard with the court sense of a player beyond his years. He is quick and has a deceptive 42" vertical leap.The Lakers drafted him for the same reason they drafted Luke Walton, he's smart. You need smart players to run the triangle. The Lakers have been looking for a true point guard and may still sign a veteran free agent to come in. Only time will tell if Jordan will become the starting point guard for the Lakers in the years to come.

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Date

Thu 06/29/06, 1:03 pm EST