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With the 25th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Lakers will select…

By Jason Reed

OMAHA, NE - MARCH 23: Former NBA player Magic Johnson watches the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Clemson Tigers during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 23, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - MARCH 23: Former NBA player Magic Johnson watches the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Clemson Tigers during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 23, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers can still do some damage with the 25th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Who exactly should that damage be?

The Los Angeles Lakers have had a great history of late first and second-round picks in the last several years. Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart, Larry Nance Jr and Jordan Clarkson are all examples of the great late picks the Lakers have made in the last several years.

And while the Lakers did not have the drama around the NBA Lottery as the team has in recent years, the front office made the most of Clarkson and Nance by trading them to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and the 25th overall pick.

The biggest storyline of that trade was the salary cap implications and how the Cavs practically opened up space for LeBron to leave to LA this summer. However, knowing the Lakers’ good choices in the draft, the 25th overall pick could play a huge role as well.

We have done countless NBA Draft profiles on various different talents the Lakers could select in the 2018 NBA Draft. And while the pick theoretically can still be traded for someone like Kawhi Leonard, we think we know exactly who the Lakers will pick.

With the 2018 NBA Draft just two days away on Thursday, June 21, this is our final prediction of who the Lakers will pick.

With the 25th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers will select:

C Mitchell Robinson

Mitchell Robinson is a huge risk to take and that is why he is so far down on many NBA Draft big boards to begin with. Robinson did not play any college basketball and decided to forego a one-year suspension to prepare for the NBA Draft this year, not in the future.

Robinson was one of the best high school prospects heading into last season. Were he to put up even a decent college year, Robinson would undoubtedly be a lottery selection.

However, with no game time experience since the high school level, many do not know what to expect out of Robinson. Thus, teams with high selections in the draft are understandably going to stay away.

However, a team with a late-round selection that can afford to take a risk should take that risk. That team is the Los Angeles Lakers, who are going to take the risk on Robinson.

The writing is completely on the wall for this selection. Los Angeles needs depth at center. The only centers currently under contract for next season are Ivica Zubac and Thomas Bryant.

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Brook Lopez did not fit well in Los Angeles and there are too many question marks around DeMarcus Cousins to pursue him. While there are quality depth options like Nerlens Noel available, the Lakers should utilize the draft to bring in size.

Robinson is the size that the Lakers need. Robinson is 6’11” with a 7’4″ wingspan. However, unlike other towering centers like Rudy Gobert, Robinson displays freak athleticism for his size as well as a working jump shot.

At the very least, Robinson becomes a menacing rim protector and rebounder for the Lakers, if he can make the jump to the NBA without any college ball.

He struggles in the post and is still very raw offensively and may struggle against NBA quality centers. That is a product of Robinson simply abusing his size at the high school level.

However, in the presumed super team that the Lakers are going to build, the team does not need Robinson to be a marquee scorer off the block. Even having him as a fifth scoring option is fine. His immediate value is in shot-blocking and rebounding aspect of the game.

The Los Angeles Lakers need Mitchel Robinson. Mitchell Robinson needs a team to take a risk on him.

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The two sides are a perfect match and Robinson can be thrown on a contending team in his rookie season. Pretty good for someone who skipped college basketball, right?

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