Lakers history proves they must keep their draft pick
By Jamaal Artis
Will they keep or trade their draft pick?
Will they or won’t they?
Everyday you hear a different story about what the Lakers plan to do with their 2nd pick in this year’s NBA Draft.
One minute they are packaging it with one of their young assets to trade for Paul George or DeMarcus Cousins, then the next minute they are drafting Ben Simmons or an unheard of player.
Now it’s not in the Lakers best interest to have player personnel head Mitch Kupchak come out and say the Lakers will trade the pick or target a specific player in the draft.
This means for the next three weeks we will get contradictory stories, unless the Lakers actually move the pick.
Taking a look at how the No. 2 pick has fared in the past, for both the Lakers and the rest of the NBA: https://t.co/S9w5lrGQxH
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 3, 2016
If the Lakers trade their pick there are certainly advantages, due to the high value of the first two likely picks in this years draft, LSU’s Ben Simmons and Duke’s Brandon Ingram, and many think trading the pick can yield a superstar.
Except I have to ask, what superstar can they actually trade for.
Are Lebron James and Kevin Durant available for trades, glad you asked no no they are not.
Let me check Klay Thompson…nope. Steph Curry…nu huh.
Wait did I here somebody say, Paul George.
Yes the Lakers could send the Pacers their second pick and another asset for Paul George, but is he really a superstar.
Lakers past trades say otherwise.
The Lakers have traded for superstars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain in the past.
Paul George is not either of those players, yet he would help the Lakers with their defensive ineptitude and he has shown flashes of brilliance.
George on the Lakers is no better than him on the Pacers.
Some fun games during the regular season, a 7th seed and fishing in May.
What about DeMarcus Cousins???
To that I say didn’t we do this last year?
If the Sacramento Kings were interested in setting “Boogie” Cousins free, they would have done it by now.
Cousins is an All-NBA performer who some nights can put up a 30 point 20 rebound game and on others he will be sitting in the locker room in the 2nd half, because he got kicked out by the referee or his own coach.
Yes the Lakers could use his 26 pooints and 11 rebounds a game, while manning the interior on defense.
Remember though Cousins is also notorious for his attitude, he’s had to be suspended by his team, is always a leader in technical fouls, and his coach wanted him traded after only being in charge of the team for half a season.
Doesn’t seem like a player you want to drop into a situation with a first time head coach and a bunch of young players.
Trading their pick would be a clear sign that the Lakers front-office is stuck in the past.
Trying to bring in a “superstar” when there aren’t any available, that means the Lakers would be stunting their own development to make a “splash.”
It’s time the Lakers understood that their brand is not the great equalizer it once was.
If the Lakers want to return to glory it’s time they grow from within and embrace the process.