[excerpt] "We were surprised that he dropped to us at 19," Kupchak said. "We do need help in the backcourt, but he is another young player. We've got a young point guard that we like. I'm sure Jordan [Farmar] is wondering right now, 'Why did the Lakers do what they did?' But that stuff gets sorted out during training camp and during the season."
As if on cue, Farmar arrived for a workout at the team's training facility at 9 p.m.
Kupchak mentioned Crittenton's size and strength as plusses. Crittenton, who played one season at Georgia Tech, also ran the triangle offense at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy High.
"I'm a Laker fan," Crittenton said. "I watch a lot of Kobe when I have a chance. I'm a Magic Johnson fan. To be honest, I was a little surprised that I slipped that far. I'm thankful that they selected me. Things happen for a reason."
The Lakers then took 6-7 3/4 Chinese guard Sun Yue with the 40th pick and Spanish center Marc Gasol with the 48th pick.
Yue, 21, has an impressive 34-inch vertical jump, and averaged 13.5 points and 10.5 assists for the Beijing Aoshen of the American Basketball Assn. (The team was suspended from the Chinese Basketball Assn. but subsequently moved to Los Angeles.)
Gasol, the 22-year-old brother of Memphis power forward Pau Gasol, averaged 10.8 points and 5.6 rebounds last season with Akasvayu Girona in Spain.
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