3 Prospects Lakers Should Target Following NBA Draft Pick News
By Cem Yolbulan
The Los Angeles Lakers are entering the offseason with a couple of important assets that they can use to improve the roster. One of those is their first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
However, until Friday, it wasn't clear whether the Lakers would have access to that pick. The New Orleans Pelicans had the right to that pick but had the option to defer it another season. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Pelicans will be deferring that selection. This means that the Lakers now have the No. 17 overall pick in this year's draft.
ESPN Sources with @DraftExpress: The New Orleans Pelicans are planning to defer the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round pick until 2025, clearing the way for LA to select 17th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. Pick conditions were part of the Anthony Davis trade in 2019.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 31, 2024
This is understandable by the Pelicans. The 2025 NBA Draft is considered to be stronger than this year's. There is also a chance it will be a higher pick if the Lakers struggle next season.
For the Lakers, on the other hand, it is an excellent opportunity to improve the roster this summer. They can either use that pick as part of a trade or draft a rookie with the hopes of them being a contributor.
Last season, the Lakers chose to keep their first-round pick, much to their fans' chagrin, and drafted Jalen Hood-Schifino with the 17th overall pick. That selection hasn't turned out great so far.
So, if the Lakers keep this selection, they will need to nail their draft pick. Fortunately for them, they need help in multiple positions and various fronts, so they can go in any number of directions. Let's take a look at some of the best prospects that they could realistically select at No. 17.