The Los Angeles Lakers were quick to work after the 2018 NBA Draft on Thursday, landing a pair of undrafted free agents.
After securing Malik Newman to a two-way contract and Joel Berry to a Summer League deal earlier in the night, the Lakers signed Jeffrey Carroll out of Oklahoma State as well.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Jeffrey Carroll (Oklahoma State) have agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal, a league source told The Athletic.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 22, 2018
An Exhibit 10 deal is a new type of contract that offers guaranteed money only if the player makes the team or signs with their respective G-League team as well. It serves as a mechanism to keep players from going overseas to sign after receiving their guaranteed money during Summer League.
Exhibit 10 deal = Carroll will get bonus $ if he is waived & signs w/ SB Lakers. Teams used to sign guys to SL deals w/ only say 50k guaranteed & waive them, hope to sign them w/ G-League team. Player could leave for Europe though, like Zach Auguste did. Exhibit 10 prevents this https://t.co/Pfj3OVcnUF
— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) June 22, 2018
As for Carroll himself, the Lakers worked out the guard late in the draft process in the team’s second-to-last announced group workout.
In his senior season, Carroll averaged 15.4 points and 6.2 rebounds but shot just 40.6 percent from the field and 33.2 percent from the line.
Those numbers were a stark drop across the board from his junior season. In his third year, Carroll averaged 17.5 points on 53.7 percent field goal shooting and 44.4 percent three-point shooting.
A big reason for the drop in numbers came from the drop in talent around him. Normally a hybrid shooting guard or small forward, Carroll was forced into a ball-handling role as a senior after seeing Clipper point guard Jawun Evans graduate after his junior season.
Carroll’s usage rate rose as did his assist rate. However, his turnover rate rose as well. His efficiency numbers took a dop across the board as Carroll became the focal point of the Cowboys’ offense.
The Lakers were impressed with Carroll’s workout with the team late in the season and expected the guard to be drafted.
After that Lakers workout, a coach told Carroll, “I would honestly be shocked if you don’t get drafted.” Carroll appreciated the praise, but he doesn’t want to get his hopes too high.
If Carroll can recapture his junior-year form, he could find his way onto the end of the bench of the Lakers’ roster with the purple and gold in need of shooting, evidenced by Thursday’s draft haul.
Athleticism and shooting like this will always tantalize GMs and could lead to Carroll finding a long-term spot in the league.
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