Los Angeles Lakers: Three players worth trading up for in the draft

2. Zhaire Smith, pick 10

Another team that could be looking to move down in the draft is the 76ers, who we previously mentioned owns the 10th overall pick, which originally belonged to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 76ers could take advantage of the Lakers and trade the team’s own pick right back to them if Los Angeles finds a prospect that they are in love with. There is such a prospect who happens to fall right at the 10th overall, at least in some projections.

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly completely infatuated with shooting guard prospect Zhaire Smith, and rightfully so. Smith is one of the most explosive players in the entire draft class and would fit like a shoe alongside Lonzo Ball in the backcourt.

Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report ranks Smith as the 10th-best prospect in the draft class, putting him right in the 76ers’ alley to convince the Lakers to trade for the 10th overall pick.

This trade would be tricky for the 76ers, who are likely looking to add established talent to complete the young core. I could see the Lakers agreeing to a sign and trade deal with Julius Randle of some sort if Randle did not want to stay in LA, but that seems like a stretch.

Instead, this trade would likely just be a picks-only trade. The Lakers would have to send the 76ers their pick next year along with the Cavaliers’ pick this year in order to move up. This would give the 76ers more ammunition to trade for a superstar and would allow the Lakers to select someone they are in love with.

Is it worth it? Only time will tell. However, if Smith pans out and the Lakers end up owning a late 20s pick next year, chances are the team won’t be missing its 2019 first-round pick.