The Los Angeles Lakers signed four new players on Thursday. Forward Vincent Valerio-Bodon and guards Damion Baugh, Bryce Hamilton and Scotty Pippen Jr.
Valerio-Bodon (6’9’’, 200) recently appeared in 30 matches (all starts) for Sopron KC of the Hungarian NBIA during the 2022-23 season, averaging 8.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 25.7 minutes per game while shooting 50.3 percent from the field, 41.2 percent from 3-point range and 87.9 percent from the free-throw line.
He previously played for DEAC of the Hungarian NBIA in 2021-22, appearing in 28 games (24 starts) and averaging 5.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 19.3 minutes per game. Valerio-Bodon participated in one game for the Boston Celtics at 2023 NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas, recording 13 points (4-8 FG, 2-4 3PT, 3-3 FT), six rebounds, three assists and one block in 25 minutes.
Baugh (6’4’’, 194) began his professional career after spending the past four seasons at TCU (2021-23) and the University of Memphis (2019-21). Collegiately, the Tennesse native appeared in 117 career games (88 starts), registering averages of 7.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals in 26.8 minutes. In his last season as a Horned Frog, Baugh played in 29 matches (all starts) and averaged 12.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.8 steals in 35.0 minutes per game, earning him All-Big 12 Second Team honors. He ended the season ranked third in the conference in total assists (169) and 13th in the NCAA in assists per game (5.8).
Hamilton (6’4’’, 205) showed in 29 regular season games (27 starts) as a rookie last season for the South Bay Lakes, averaging 14.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assista in 28.2 minutes per game. He played four collegiate seasons at UNLV (2018-22), appearing in 119 games (69 starts) and averaging 14.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 26.0 minutes per contest.
His career-high 21.8 points per game average as a senior lead all conference players. Hamilton secured a spot on three successive All-Mountain West conference teams, plus two first team selections in 2019-20 and 2021-22.
Pippen Jr. (6’1’’, 185) as as rookie in 2022-2, joined in 19 NBA G League regular season games (four starts) for South Bay, posting averages of 21.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.6 steals in 27.9 minutes per game. The 22-year-old was chosen to participate in the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars Game as part of NBA All-Star Weekend and was named NBA G League Player of the Week on December 19.
In addition, he played in six games for the Los Angeles Lakers last season, averaging 2.3 points in 5.3 minutes. In three collegiate seasons (2019-22) at Vanderbilt University, he appeared in 90 games (89 starts) and averaged 17.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.6 steals in 31.6 minutes. Pippen Jr. earned all All-SEC First Team honors after his sophmore and junior campaings.
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