Report: Lakers sign undrafted free agent Malik Newman to 2-way contract
The Los Angeles Lakers signed Kansas guard Malik Newman to a two-way contract after going undrafted, according to Yahoo Sports' Shams Charania.
After a fine freshman campaign at Mississippi State in 2015-16, Newman transferred to Bill Self's program, sat out a year, and really took to the Big 12 as a redshirt sophomore in 2017-18. In 39 games for the Jayhawks, Newman averaged 14.2 points, five rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 41.5 percent from 3-point range.
Most importantly, Newman showed off a great sense of timing. From the start of the Big 12 conference tournament all the way to Kansas' Final Four appearance where they lost to eventual national champion Villanova, Newman upped his scoring to 22.5 points per game.
Malik Newman bio
Position: PG, SG
Schools: Mississippi State, Kansas
College Experience: Sophomore
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 190 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-5.5
Max vertical: N/A
What the analysts are saying
- "Newman has some real talent as a situational handler and mostly off-ball player with his catch-and-shoot prowess, ability to shoot off motion and quickly attack closeouts off the catch to get to his pull-up." - Cole Zwicker, The Stepien.
- "He's very much a combo guard, and could have value providing spacing and scoring for an NBA team ... While his size doesn't give him the two-position defensive versatility you'd hope for, he still is plenty big to match up against the vast majority of NBA (point guards)." - David Ray, NBADraft.net.