Lakers: Way-too-early targets for the first-round of the 2018 NBA Draft
By Jason Reed
Three of the Lakers’ four high draft choices the last four seasons have panned out nicely. With the Cavaliers pick in 2018, LA will add another first-rounder.
Say what you want about the Los Angeles Lakers, they know how to draft some talent. This is even more relevant with Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka running the team. The duos first draft together, the 2017 NBA Draft, they picked up three very solid first round options that have a big impact on the Lakers.
Second overall pick Lonzo Ball has proven the doubters wrong and has become a stat sheet filler in only his rookie year. There are some hiccups around his scoring and shot form, but in three years time, he will be a nightly triple-double threat.
Kyle Kuzma has been one of the best sleepers in the entire draft and would claim that top spot if it were not for Donovan Mitchell. Josh Hart did not do much early in the season, however, before breaking his hand was turning into a big player for the Lakers on both sides of the court.
Before this young trio, the Lakers drafted Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell. Ingram, Randle and Russell fell in the Lakers’ lap, as they were the best available, with two of the three working out. Although Russell could not find success in LA, trading him did open up cap space for this summer; so that’s something!
The Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round pick this year is heading to either the Boston Celtics or the Philadelphia 76ers, so tanking has been off the table. However, the Lakers did acquire the Cleveland Cavaliers pick in the trade that brought Isaiah Thomas to LA.
It is still just March and there is plenty of time to go, but here are our way-too-early targets for the Lakers in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft.