No Place Like Home

In the age of scouting players, from the Dakotas to Dakar, the Lakers didn’t stray very far to find their first-round pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft.

In need of backcourt help, they were delighted to see Jordan Farmar’s name still on the board when the draft’s 26th pick rolled around.

Farmar, 19, is a blend of court awareness and defensive savvy who led UCLA to the NCAA championship game two months ago.

He was expected to be gone when the Lakers took their turn, but the New Jersey Nets, seeking a point guard to develop behind Jason Kidd, selected former Connecticut and Crenshaw High standout Marcus Williams, who unexpectedly slipped several spots in the draft.

Farmar ultimately became a Laker and filled a trifecta of sorts, going from Taft High in Woodland Hills to UCLA and now to the Lakers, one of his childhood favorites while growing up in the Southland.

The Lakers cautioned that Farmar is not expected to contribute greatly next season, or perhaps even the season after that, but they were still eager to select him.

“We did not think Jordan Farmar would be available when we picked at 26,� General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. “We actually had him going five or six picks higher than this.

“We know him very well. Coach [Ben] Howland and I have talked about him a lot recently. I’m very comfortable with the program, the winning atmosphere they’ve got at UCLA and the coach’s assessment.�

On an evening flooded with trades across the league, the Lakers made some moves of their own, acquiring Detroit Pistons reserve guard Maurice Evans for the rights to their second-round choice, Cheick Samb, a 7-foot-1 center from Senegal.

Evans, 6-5 and 27 years old, is a physical player and a defensive presence who averaged five points and 14.2 minutes in 80 games for the Pistons.

The Lakers also sent Miami’s second-round pick next season to the Dallas Mavericks for George Washington shooting guard J.R. Pinnock, selected 58th overall by the Mavericks.

But the success of the Lakers’ draft will be determined by Farmar, who declared for the draft after his sophomore season and stuck with his intention even though teammate Arron Afflalo withdrew from draft consideration to return to the Bruins.

Farmar, a touch under 6-1, was Pacific 10 Conference freshman of the year and elevated his game as a sophomore, developing the awareness and defense that makes NBA general managers nod their heads.

The Bruins, picked to finish third in the Pac-10, won the conference title, the conference tournament and advanced to the NCAA championship game before losing to Florida. Farmar, in control of the team’s offense and its second-leading scorer (13.5 points per game), was thrust into the national spotlight.

His performance at the league’s recent pre-draft camp in Orlando helped cement Farmar’s status as a first-rounder. “He was one of the best athletes,� Kupchak said. “I don’t think he showed his athleticism at UCLA as much as he will with us.�

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, who was at the team’s training facility for the draft, did not speak to reporters as he drove out of the complex, although he did offer a thumbs-up sign.

Farmar seemed elated while talking to reporters on a conference call, telling of his admiration for Lakers past and present -- Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

“Having them right at home and them being so good and competitive for such a long time, you can’t live here and not be a fan,� Farmar said. “I was definitely around when Kobe was here, winning championships still. Words can’t describe how I feel right now.�

Farmar, for all his strengths, also has some things to work on. He is a marginal shooter, his turnovers run a little too high and he needs to add weight to a 171-pound frame.

The Lakers will look at signing at least one free-agent guard next month because, as Kupchak said, “It’s not really realistic to believe that a 19-year old player is going to play big minutes for us.

“It usually takes young players a year or two or three. I would say we’d have a fair assessment in two years on what kind of player he’s going to be. We’ll still look to add a player in our backcourt, maybe somebody that we know is a little more proven versus a young player.�

Howland, who got to know Farmar through two productive years, said the Lakers “got a great pick.�

“He should have a long and productive career in the NBA,� Howland said. “He gets to play with a great player like Kobe Bryant and he gets to play for one of the greatest coaches ever in Phil Jackson. Jordan will learn a lot. And he gets to play in front of family and friends. It’s an ideal situation.�

The 6-5 Pinnock averaged 14.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists last season as a junior at George Washington and was a first-team All-Atlantic-10 selection.

Times staff writer Steve Springer contributed to this report.

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Lakers picks

JORDAN FARMAR, 26th pick

*--* UCLA HT: 6-0 3/4 WT: 171 Guard PPG: 13.5 APG: 5.1

*--*

* Early entry.... Terrific ball-handling and passing skills....Has great court vision and feel for the game....Prone to the turnover....Decent outside shooter.

J.R. PINNOCK, 58th pick (acquired from Dallas)

*--* G. Washington HT: 6-5 WT: 204 Guard PPG: 14.5 APG: 3.1

*--*

* Led the Colonials in scoring and steals las season....Named to the the Atlantic 10 All-Conference first team.

The Lakers drafted Cheick Samb with the 51st pick, then traded his rights to Detroit for guard Maurice Evans.