Quincy Olivari continues the trend that saved the Lakers from the star hunt

The Los Angeles Lakers have spent the first few months of the JJ Redick era trying to break negative trends. That started with forgoing the annual search for a big name who could temporarily hide the team's major deficiencies and instead prioritizing a youth movement.

However, one habit that shouldn't be broken showed itself during rookie guard Quincy Olivari's preseason.

Olivari went undrafted last June as a 23-year-old rookie. However, the former Rice Owls and Xavier Musketeers star is nothing short of compelling, with skills that seem tailor-made for the modern NBA.

An undersized scoring guard not known for his skill entering the NBA at 23 is destined to be overlooked, but it's easier than ever for players of this archetype to succeed with the strengths that define Olivari's game to be.

Olivari is a sniper through and through and has the volume and efficiency to back up that claim. He shot 38.7 percent on 6.3 three-point field goal attempts in five collegiate seasons, topping the 40.0 percent mark twice – including 2023-24.

It remains to be seen whether Olivari can translate that success to the NBA, but his preseason performance is a reminder of how consistently the Lakers have found undrafted gems.

More than that, it's a reminder of how quality scouting has saved Los Angeles from a tendency to gamble on players with name value – future be damned.

Los Angeles is an organization that sets the standard when it comes to finding undrafted players who can contribute quality NBA minutes. It's a process that some say started with Alex Caruso, who went undrafted in 2016 before spending the 2016-17 season in the G League.

In 2017, the Lakers signed Caruso to a two-way contract – and he quickly emerged as one of the NBA's best defensive players.

Caruso helped Los Angeles win a championship in 2019-20, paving the way for another crucial piece of the puzzle to follow in his footsteps. Austin Reaves went undrafted in 2021 and almost immediately signed a two-way contract to join the Lakers.

Three years later, Reaves is one of the most productive players on the team and a proven postseason performer who helped Los Angeles reach the 2023 Western Conference Finals.

Expecting Olivari to live up to this standard would be unfair, if not completely irresponsible. However, the Lakers' track record of turning undrafted rookies into rotation players is undeniable, and Olivari has the tools to develop accordingly.

In the 2023-24 season, Olivari averaged 19.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 3.1 three-point field goals on 40.9 percent shooting from distance.

Aside from his numbers, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound guard is capable of pulling up from anywhere on the court and working without the ball. He proved that in his breakout preseason, shooting the lights out and crashing the boards, constantly looking for the gaps in the defense.

Olivari may not have a permanent role in Los Angeles in 2024-25, but the seeds of a new diamond in the rough have been planted for the Lakers.