Lakers: Five positive things to take from the 2017-2018 season

3. The front office hit a home run in the 2017 NBA Draft

Perhaps the only good thing about losing so much is that the Los Angeles Lakers have had several high draft picks. Prior to the Rob Pelinka/Magic Johnson era, the Lakers picked up Julius Randle, D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram in the NBA Draft.

Randle and Ingram worked out great and are a key foundation in the Lakers’ future. Although Russell never really found his place in LA, he did allow the front office to get rid a past mistake in Timofey Mozgov and his massive contract.

In their first draft in charge of the Lakers, Pelinka and Johnson hit a home run. First of all, Lonzo Ball was exactly what the Lakers needed with the second overall pick. Ball has arguably been the best rookie point guard out of the draft class. The only lottery picks that have outshined Ball have been Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell.

Then with the 27th overall pick, the Lakers got an absolute steal in Kyle Kuzma. Kuzma is an all-star in the making and has been the NBA’s third or fourth best rookie. If it was not for Donovan Mitchell falling to the 13th overall pick, Kuzma would easily be the steal of the draft. Since he went 27th, though, he might still be.

Then with the 30th overall pick, the Los Angeles Lakers picked guard Josh Hart. Although Hart got out to a slow start, when Lonzo Ball missed time with an MCL injury he stepped up. In his first game back from a hand fracture Hart scored 13 points with 13 board. Against the Timberwolves he scored 20 with 11 boards on 50 percent shooting.

Hart will develop into a top-tier sixth-man in the NBA. The Lakers got three great players in the first-round; who else does that? Nobody.