Los Angeles Lakers: 2018 NBA Draft checklist for potential selections
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers may not have a lottery pick in the 2018 NBA Draft but can still do some damage with the 25th overall selection.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been a consistent presence in the NBA Draft Lottery. Over the last four seasons, the Lakers have had three consecutive second-overall picks and a seventh overall pick. Those selections have led to three of the four key members of the Lakers young core in Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball.
This year, though, the Lakers finally lost their lottery selection as it was not protected. Fortunately for LA, it was the worst lottery selection of the last five years and is good enough for the tenth overall pick in the draft.
Even better is that the Lakers still have a first-round pick, owning the 25th overall pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 2018 NBA Draft is not as important as past drafts, so the Lakers have the ability to take a shot with this pick.
It helps that the team has had great late selections in recent drafts as well. Since 2014, the Lakers have landed some notable players later in the draft.
- Kyle Kuzma (27th Overall Selection) — 2017
- Josh Hart (30th Overall Selection) — 2017
- Larry Nance Jr. (27th Overall Selection) — 2015
- Jordan Clarkson (46th Overall Selection) — 2014
What the Los Angeles Lakers need is role players, the 2018 NBA Draft is going to help accomplish that.
In order from most important to least, we compiled a four-point checklist, detailing exactly what the Lakers should be looking for in potential selections.