As the Los Angeles Lakers prepare to bring in 7-foot-10 center Christian Koloko to bolster their frontcourt, it was time for them to cut ties with one of their three two-way prospects.
Surprisingly, the Lakers elected to separate with an undrafted three-point maestro.
“The Los Angeles Lakers are parting ways with versatile point guard Blake Hinson,” Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported Sunday. “Hinson averaged 18.5 points and shot 42.1 percent from three-point range in Pittsburgh. The point guard’s 2.03 shooting intrigued teams after the draft. He should now draw interest as a free agent.”
Hinson didn’t make a great impression on the Lakers in Summer League, but his college resume speaks for itself. In Pittsburgh, Hinson’s remarkable three-point efficiency was on full display. As a junior and senior, he was one of the top five three-point shooters in the prestigious ACC. In the 2022-23 season, Hinson made 38 percent of his three-pointers and helped the Panthers end a six-year NCAA Tournament drought.
He can throw some confusing shots from time to time, but he’s not a guy defensemen should feel comfortable helping at this level.
However, when it comes to two-way contracts, the Lakers have contracts with Christian Koloko, Colin Castleton, and Armel Traore. Hinson could possibly sign a contract with an NBA organization in the future, but he will have to be patient until another opportunity presents itself.
More NBA: Former top 10 pick makes bold comparison between LeBron James and Michael Jordan
