2017 NBA Draft: If not Lonzo Ball – Three Players the Lakers should Draft
By Jason Reed
Justin Patton – Center
According to Draft Express‘ mock draft, Justin Patton is currently slated to go sixteenth overall to the Milwaukee Bucks. In this instance, we are assuming that the Lakers do not keep their pick, and only have the Rockets pick. Here the Lakers would trade up about twelve spots to get the Bucks pick.
This would not be an inconceivable move up as the Lakers could offer the Bucks a talented guy without losing anyone significant. Perhaps the Lakers offer this pick and a future second-round pick to secure Patton. Maybe they trade the Rockets pick and a guy like Timofey Mozgov (likely needing to eat most of the contract).
Who knows exactly what the Bucks asking price for this pick would be, but Patton would be a great addition to a young core of big men in Los Angeles.
Patton would join Julius Randle, Ivica Zubac, and Larry Nance Jr. in the Lakers front court. It may be a bit crowded, but having so many young big guys would be extremely promising for the Lakers.
Think back at the Lakers title wins, most of which came with a great big man in the mix. Kobe won his titles with Shaq and then with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. The showtime Lakers won their titles with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the middle.
Patton would be a good option in Los Angeles out of the 2017 NBA Draft. The seven-footer averaged 13.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. Only being a freshman, this would give the Lakers time to develop Patton into a legitimate pass blocking, scoring, big man.