When the Los Angeles Lakers selected Isaac Bonga in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft, many assumed that he would be a draft-and-stash player. Bonga, a relative unknown, played in Germany this past season and seemed like a perfect candidate to continue playing in Europe to refine his raw skills.
That may not be the case, however, as the guard is saying he will be joining the Lakers for Summer League in July:
Lakers draftee Isaac Bonga said that he will play for Lakers' Summer League team after being selected with the 39th overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft
— Sportando (@Sportando) June 25, 2018
It’s rare for rookies to play in the Summer League if they are not under contract (or close to reaching agreement) so it seems likely that the Lakers want Bonga on the team immediately. That said, if the Lakers need to save cap space for free agent signings, Bonga could still be sent to Europe until a future time.
Bonga, a 6-8 point guard, has high potential despite being extremely raw. Playing in a Summer League setting could be highly entertaining for Lakers fans looking for even more talented, young players.
Bonga will not be able to play in the inaugural 2018 California Classic as the trade that sent his rights to the Lakers cannot be finalized until July 6th when the new league year officially begins. This is due to the Lakers sending cash to the 76ers in exchange for the pick.
