Aloha,
Usually having just the 55th pick in the draft would be a ho hum draft for the Lakers. But there are a couple of things to look for.
1. There are a couple of teams with more picks than they can use. OKC immediately comes to mind. They have two firsts and the 44th pick. That’s a problem when you have 15 guys under contract. Now they have two with team options but apparently they like them. OKC’s options include trying to move up in the draft by consolidating the picks into one. Draft and stash over sea’s. Or trading for future picks. I would talk to them about their number 15th pick. See if they would swap it for the our 2031 pick. That pick could be more appealing in a trade or possibly drafting an older NBA ready wing or center.
2. The scribes seem to believe there could be many trades in the draft this year. The Lakers could benefit by assisting in a trade, especially if it brings back a center. Think the Mav’s Gafford.
3. One thing about having a new owner with deep pockets is buying draft picks. There is no rule about how much money you can spend on a pick. Could they over pay and buy a pick that could land an older rotation ready player? Think the Nets and OKC’s late first round or either teams 2nd round.
4. As for our 55th. I would like us to draft a player and sign them to a two way deal. That’s not uncommon for a team drafting that late. We had 3 projects on our roster last year and that’s not good for a win now team. It really killed up last year when Trent Jr and Prince both signed minimum deals. With so little money available there will be more bargains slipping through the cracks. Bruce Brown and Deanthony Melton come to mind.
These are possibilities that at least make the draft somewhat interesting for Laker fans this year.
I was really disappointed when we missed out Gary Trent Jr. , one of my favorite players.
Sure might have helped.
Thanks DJ!
Good analysis, Michael. Thanks.
Agreed…..Great logical thoughts….Pelinka could use you as an assistant general manager or vice versa.
I love your sense of humor, and I
I absolutely love this take, @Humanomaly. I have suggested it for years now that Michael should be hired to help run the Lakers front office. His basketball IQ is off the charts, and his knack for timing and insight is exactly what the Lakers front office needs. If Landry Fields can take the reins in Atlanta to run the Hawk as a GM, imagine the strategic firepower Michael would bring to LA. He’s not just making suggestions—he’s making sense.
Looking at the Dejountae Murray trade which may have been the downfall of Fields….it wasn’t that bad a trade in my opinion….I approve it…and think it was a good trade now….at the time I did not, because I thought the priority shoulda been to trade Trae Young, who is negative on defense….and hasn’t been able to lift the Hawks on his own. Landry Fields was fired a few months ago, I only recall that he let Jeremy Lin sleep on his couch, so I give him credit for that. He did go to Stanford for 4 years, got his BS in communication and media studies….Linkedin shows he’s a scout for the Spurs….which is interesting because the guy that replaced him had log history with the Spurs. Fields probably wasn’t quite ready to be the GM of an NBA team. But I think some of his moves were not bad….and the current GM/management will benefit. Those suggestions or thoughts about Thibodeau as a head assistant were/are interesting…….I thought about Frank Vogel for the same use, but maybe there’s more to it….at this point it would only be a Lebron/Klutch vs Vogel issue as most all the other players from that CHAMPIONSHIP team (are you listening Alex “The Bald Eagle” Caruso????)….but what do I know???….
I’d love to see them gobble up a buncha 2nd round picks. Just to have some damn arrows in the quiver. Rockets threw five 2nd rounders (and one 1st) at the Suns and were able to hold onto alotta core players in that KD deal.
Agreed, need picks (some to keep and actually draft along with some to trade).