Iowa basketball: Peter Jok would fit in perfect with new-look Lakers

The Lakers made a blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis. Now they need to fill in the pieces, and former Iowa basketball player Peter Jok would fit perfectly.

In a move this weekend that rocked the landscape of the NBA, the New Orleans Pelicans sent one of the top players in the league, Anthony Davis, for a plethora of picks and players to the Los Angeles Lakers. After a tumultuous season, the Lakers were the great unknown heading into this offseason. Nobody was quite sure if they were going to blow things up or swing for the fences, and now that we know they are all-in, they need to surround LeBron James and Anthony Davis with shooters, which is why former Iowa basketball player Peter Jok makes perfect sense.

In addition to James and Davis, the Lakers are likely in hot pursuit of a third big name on the open market such as Jimmy Butler, 2019 NBA Finals MVP Kawai Leonard, or Kyrie Irving. With any of those additions, the the Lakers will improve even more (obviously), but will be effectively limiting the amount of moves they can make going forward. Cap space will be tight and finding the right bargain bin players to compliment the incredible three-headed monster they are forming will be tough.

Fortunately for the Lakers, there is a guy who would fit in perfectly playing just a few hours southeast of Los Angeles.

Peter Jok has been playing for the Phoenix Suns’ G-League affiliate for the past two years and the results have been impressive thus far.

Last season, in just his second year, Jok averaged 14.3 points per game while shooting 43% from the field and 41% behind from the arc. He also added in 4.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. His 41% shooting percentage was 10th best in the league for anyone with more than 3 attempts per game.

At 6’6”, he creates an even bigger advantage for the Lakers who possess a significant amount of length, and his 3 and D capabilities would fit in perfectly. Think of a Mike Miller or Kyle Korver playing on Lebron-led team, but a decade younger, more athletic, and significantly better at defense. Oh, and most importantly, he is way cheaper.

Although Jok is on the Northern Arizona Suns, there doesn’t appear to be any stipulations that would hold up a free agency signing with another NBA team. He’s not on a two-way contract, and he participated in the G-League combine showcase in May.

For the Lakers, it could be a low-risk, high-reward option for them. Jok isn’t a shooting guard that has to be ball-dominant, and history shows it. When he was on a senior-dominated team for the Iowa basketball team during the 2015-2016 team, Jok hit 40% of his threes on just over 6 attempts a game while often being the 2nd or 3rd option in games. With the Lakers, he would likely get a significant amount of open looks from behind the arc as LeBron drives in the lane.

Lakers, I see you. Let’s make this happen. If you need more proof, just watch Jok dominate in TBT this July with the Iowa United.

Bring one of the best shooters in Iowa basketball history to Los Angeles and watch what he can do.