All Lakers Experts Predict What LA Will Do With 2023 Draft Picks
The NBA Draft is a little under two hours away and the league has been in a frenzy as of late. The Western Conference continues to only grow stronger and it's starting to look like your Los Angeles Lakers will have no choice but to join the party and make a big trade or pick a player of the future with their number 17 and number 40 picks.
As for which direction they'll roll in, we asked some of our most esteemed writers on All Lakers.com what they believe and you just may agree with some of their answers.
Matt Wagner:
If you weren't quite up to speed, there's been rumors circulating about the Lakers potentially trading their first round pick. I don't think LA will, nor should they, go that route.The Lakers need depth, particularly of the cheaper variety because of Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, D'Angelo Russell, and others set to hit the market shortly after the draft. Chris Paul's immediate future is in limbo, but if they aren't able to swing for him as part of a deal for the No. 17 pick, I'd say they keep the pick and use it on a wing with range from deep -- something that the Lakers have lacked for years.
As to who they should go with, Kansas' Gradey Dick would be the best case scenario here, but I don't think the 40 percent three point shooter will fall quite that far.The more likely play at 17 is Brice Sensabaugh from Ohio State.I'm a little higher on the freshman than others, but he's an efficient shooter from all three levels and is a 40 percent shooter from deep as well, making him an attractive option for LA. Defense is his main drawback, but he has the potential to develop into a serviceable defender down the line and he's polished enough offensively where his current shortcomings on the other end can be overlooked.Ultimately, it's about getting some much needed floor spacing here and there's a variety of options here for LA. If they could get Gradey Dick, that'd be ideal, but don't be surprised to see them potentially look at a guy like Sensabaugh as another option.
Alex Kirschenbaum:
I think the Lakers should use the pick on one of the high-level three-point shooting wings that should still be available at that point in the draft. Connecticut's Jordan Hawkins, Michigan's Jett Howard and maybe even Kobe Bufkin (though a lot of mocks think he'll be gone by the time the Lakers pick), Baylor's Keyonte George, Santa Clara's Brandin Podziemski, UCLA's Jaimie Jaquez Jr., and Duke's Dariq Whitehead could all be good fits for essentially finding a cheap replacement for the Malik Beasley/Lonnie Walker bench wing role.
However, it certainly seems like Los Angeles might be angling to make a bigger move. The team has already improved its second round draft pick from No. 47 to No. 40 in a trade with the Indiana Pacers, and insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported just yesterday that it seems more likely LA will trade the No. 17 pick. Perhaps they flip it for a splashier roster change, even if it murders their cap. Let's go with LA picking up its team options on center Mo Bamba ($10.3 million) and shooting guard Malik Beasley ($16.5 million) and bundling them with that pick in exchange for, say, the Brooklyn Nets for forwards Royce O'Neale ($9.5 million) and Dorian Finney-Smith ($13.4 million) and a later first rounder (the Nets possess the Nos. 21 and 22 picks).
It's looking today will still hold many surprises for Lakers fans before, during, and after the draft. You already to tune in to All Lakers.com for all of the latest updates, rumors and news!
