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Ten months later and it’s evident the Lakers won the 2017 NBA Draft

By Jason Reed

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: Lonzo Ball walks on stage after being drafted second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: Lonzo Ball walks on stage after being drafted second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers may not have won enough games to make the NBA Playoffs. However, it is obvious one season later that they won the 2017 NBA Draft.

Flashback to May 16, 2017. The 2017 NBA Draft is approaching, it is the day of the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery. The Los Angeles Lakers, coming off of a 26-win season, must place in the top three for their draft pick to be protected from the Philadelphia 76ers.

The balls bounced the Lakers’ way, who picked up the second overall pick in the draft. The discussion then shifted to another ball.

Lonzo Ball was one of the most promising prospects in the draft. A product of Chino Hills High School and UCLA, Ball was the best all-around, playmaking guard in the draft. The Lakers needed this playmaking ability. What the young core did not need is another headache in his father, LaVar Ball.

Los Angeles already had issues with another point guard selected second overall, D’Angelo Russell. Russell videotaped teammate Nick Young discussing his private life, which included cheating on his then-fiancée Iggy Azalea.

The concern apparently was not large, as the Lakers traded Russell to the Brooklyn Nets and drafted Ball with the second overall pick. The Lakers had their point guard of the future.

It turns out they had much more coming in that same draft.

The Los Angeles Lakers had three first-round selections in the 2017 NBA Draft; tied for the most first-round picks with the Sacramento Kings.

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Los Angeles had its own pick, the second overall selection, which netted the team Ball. The Lakers also netted the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 27th overall pick from the Brooklyn Nets in the Russell trade.

The Lakers also originally had the Houston Rockets’ 28th overall pick in the trade that sent Houston Lou Williams. On draft night, the Lakers sent that pick to the Jazz in exchange for the Warriors’ 30th overall pick as well as the 42nd overall pick.

Los Angeles selected Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart with those picks, respectively.

And while none of the Lakers’ three first-round picks are in the two-man running for the Rookie of the Year award, the 2017 NBA Draft should be considered a massive win.

Lonzo Ball had his early struggles, sure, but his impact was much larger than his quirky shot mechanics and low shooting percentage. The culture of the Lakers was obviously different with Ball on the court. Collectively, the Lakers were much better offensively with Ball pushing the pace.

Kyle Kuzma was perhaps the sleeper pick of the year. While Rookie of the Year candidate, and 13th overall pick, Donovan Mitchell may take the honors, the 27th overall pick has played better than most of the lottery picks in the draft.

Kuzma is averaged 16.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists while making 45 percent of hit shots. Kuzma’s ability to stretch the floor as well as drive to the basket has makes him a perfect stretch four as well a viable small forward. In 77 games played, Kuzma scored 20 or more points 25 times.

Josh Hart does not have the same mainstream appeal as Ball or Kuzma but proved late in the year, in Ball’s absence, that he has all the makings of being the next great NBA sixth man.

In 11 games after the All-Star Break Hart averaged 15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Upon returning from injury, Hart scored 13 points alongside 13 rebounds.

Hart logged three double-doubles in the final nine games of the season, scoring 20 or more four times. In the last game of the season, Hart scored 30 points and logged five rebounds on 9-15 shooting.

Next: Way-too-early trades to consider

The Los Angeles Lakers essentially selected three lottery picks within the first round, two of which coming in the final three picks. As great as Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell and others have been, it is more than clear that the Los Angeles Lakers are the surefire winners of the 2017 NBA Draft.

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