NBA Champions, the Lakers will this time be at the bottom of the Draft table. But despite that, their 28th pick could be very beneficial to them in a trade, and 3 players are likely to land in Los Angeles under these conditions.
Having the 28 pick doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bet on it. Some nuggets can hide in these waters, Tony Parker is the best example. Otherwise, it is always possible to set up a trade with a team that will be more interested. Greg Swartz from Bleacher Report imagined 3 scenarios where this pick would be beneficial to the Lakers via a trade, in particular to acquire a certain Derrick Rose, about which rumors are intensifying.
A base trade between veteran point guard Derrick Rose and the Lakers for the No.28 pick would make sense for both sides, giving the Lakers a playmaker and a scorer out of the bench with 46-game playoff experience.
With Rose, James could rest a bit more, his ability to plant 20 [points] off the bench each night probably exceeding what rookies like Winston or Pritchard could provide in their freshman year.
The second scenario would see the Lakers lean towards another highly regarded veteran who, for once, has undeniable experience in the playoffs.
New Orleans Pelicans full-back JJ Redick, one of the league’s top three-pointers, who averaged 15.3 points with 45.3% success on long shots at 36, would be perfect alongside of [LeBron] James.
Finally, the third option would be more directed towards a reinforcement on the defensive level, in order to make the racquet of the Lakers as abominable as possible for their adversaries.
Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers – a 24-year-old who has signed an $ 18 million a year contract and has demonstrated his ability to be an elite hoop protector and has brought in 35.7% of his 3- career points – would be a pivotal dream target.
An offer consisting of Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green and the 28 pick should be appealing to both sides, as the Pacers have already traded their 2020 first round to the Milwaukee Bucks in a sign-and-trade for Malcolm Brogdon.
Even with a relatively low pick, the Lakers have no shortage of options for the upcoming Draft. Now, will a franchise really be interested in their pick? Perhaps, if Rob Pelinka knows how to be convincing with other pieces to offer.
