The Lakers Best Perimeter Defender Might Be On A Two-way Contract

NBA games in July are not just for incoming rookies to get their first taste of professional basketball, but also a chance for teams to give their G-League standouts a national spotlight. The Lakers’ Summer League roster was littered with players from their developmental team, the newly named Coachella Valley Lakers.

​Out of those coming from that side, Mañon was the only one to play NBA minutes out of the group and get league-wide recognition with the G League.

​The Vanderbilt product was named First Team All-Defense and runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year in the G League. The stock collection was as advertised in the summer games, giving way to possibly being a useful player on the parent team that’s currently void of defensive perimeter talent.

​Mañon averaged 11.6 points, six rebounds, 2.1 steals, and a block per game in 46 G-League games. He led the team in steals by a mile, and the rebounds were the most for any non-center on the roster.

​He picked up right where he left off this summer. At 6’4” with a 6’9” wingspan, Mañon can leverage size with quick hands and tenacious attacks on ball handlers in the vicinity. No matter the time or score, it’s nonstop aggression.

Watch below on the opening tip, where he hounds the recent fifth overall pick guard, Keaton Wagler.

As he crowds the incoming rookie, a poke at the ball frees it. Like a shark in water, he smells blood. Another swipe and it’s a foot race to the ball.

​Off-ball, he mixes the length with impeccable timing and instincts. He blew up switches and coverages by jumping the ball handler and took away transition opportunities or lobs with quick jumps to time the hit ahead passes.

Mañon can lull offensive players to sleep before a cat-like pounce. Watch below as he sits in a semi-ball denial, reads that the two offensive players aren’t on the same page, and picks the dribble handoff for a bucket on the other end.

His seven steals in Vegas were second on the team behind fellow defensive standout Adou Thiero, who had ten.

An area where he’s unique defensively as a guard is the block rate. He has a good feel for when to leave his man and time a rejection before the offensive player notices he’s come over.

Watch below as he makes his way from the top of the key and springs up with two hands. He engulfs the offensive player and cleanly takes the basketball while still keeping it in play, netting one of his three blocks in the contest.

A prerequisite with any defensive-first role player, Mañon has a fantastic motor. It shows itself in transition defense, rarely giving up on a play. It led to a few highlight blocks, like the impressive one shown below on a dunk attempt.

The questions on a pathway to minutes remain on the offensive end. Summer League provided few answers in that regard. In eight Summer League games spanning the California Classic and Vegas, Mañon attempted just 13 3-pointers.

​Some of it was a lack of playmaking on the roster, while others were turning down open shots to drive. He hit a respectable 38% on them, but the volume will need a real increase to be a viable rotation player for the purple and gold.

Mañon even flashed some on-ball skills and feel as a cutter, converting 58% of his two-point and even showing off a pull-up mid-range jump shot. The team’s reliance on his playmaking tied him for second in total assists in Vegas.

​While the offense clearly needs refinement, having a potentially elite defender at the end of the bench creates opportunities for minutes on a team that is overly indexed for shot creation and scoring.

​Mañon was asked at Summer League what players he compares his game to.

“A lot of different guys,” Manon said. “Alex Caruso, Jrue Holiday. All these different guys that are pests on the ball and off the ball.”

​The Lakers re-signed Manon to a two-way contract over the summer. The team and Mañon hope those comparisons hold up and he’s able to earn a standard contract by the end of the season.

You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu.