The Los Angeles Lakers are continuing their hunt for young talent and adding an intriguing name to their roster.

The team has signed guard Augustas Marciulionis of Lithuania to an Exhibit 10 contract, giving the 23-year-old an opportunity to make the squad in training camp.

According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, the son of Basketball Hall of Famer Sarunas Marciulionis will join the Lakers under a deal that allows flexibility and potential conversion to a twoway contract.

A standout at Saint Mary’s in the West Coast Conference, Augustas earned the WCC Player of the Year award twice, averaging strong numbers in his final collegiate season, 14.2 points, 5.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

Although he missed the predraft combine and workouts due to a foot injury, Givony reports that he is expected to be fully recovered by late July.

More than just his college pedigree, Marciulionis carries a notable basketball lineage. His father Sarunas, a legend in European and international basketball, was a decorated Lithuanian player who transitioned successfully to the NBA from 1989 to 1997 with Golden State, Seattle, Sacramento, and Denver.

He averaged 12.8 points per game during his NBA career and earned induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014, later joining the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2015.

Blending legacy with opportunity

Augustas began his career in Europe with Rytas of Vilnius, even appearing in the Basketball Champions League, before moving to the United States to play NCAA Division I ball at Saint Mary’s.

His time there showcased his leadership abilities and court intelligence.

In his senior year, he finished with shooting splits that caught the attention of scouts: a field goal percentage of 44.6% and 34.7% from beyond the arc over 35 games.

Further analysis from Cranjis McBasketball (known as Tim_NBA on X), highlighted his strengths and areas to develop:

“He shot 41% on spot up 3s and 38% on all catch & shoot 3s.

Yet only shot 26% on pullup 3s and 25% in ball screens.

The question for him will be if they can get his shooting to translate to his onball game.”

This breakdown emphasizes how the Lakers‘ player development team will likely focus on improving his onball shooting efficiency while leveraging his role as a pickandroll operator.

Beyond the numbers, Augustas represents a potential bridge between European and NBA basketball styles.

Like his father, whose creativity (like the euro step and behindtheback maneuvers) revolutionized guard play, Augustas brings his own skill set and floor vision from St. Mary’s.

Read the full article here

Share.
Leave A Reply

Exit mobile version