A report this week from ESPN’s Chad Ford suggested that the Lakers are expected to make their lottery pick available in trade talks if it lands at No. 3, with the team seeking a “young veteran” in return. It remains to be seen how aggressive GM Mitch Kupchak and the Lakers will be in pursuing a potential trade, but Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com (Insider link) has looked into whether it would even be the best approach for the franchise, laying out the pros and cons for moving a top-three pick. In Pelton’s view, the Lakers “would be foolish to rule out” the possibility of trading that selection, but the club should be very careful about which veterans it targets — if the right player isn’t available, Los Angeles should simply hang onto the pick and use it.
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- The Suns won’t necessarily approach next month’s draft looking to address a specific position, but the team could use some help at the four, and as Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic details, it might make sense for Phoenix to use one of its two potential lottery picks on a power forward.
- In a separate Arizona Republic piece, Coro breaks down the prospects who interviewed with the Suns at last week’s combine in Chicago. Teams are permitted to talk to up to 20 players for 30 minutes apiece, and Coro has the full list of the 20 prospects who met with Phoenix.
- As Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee writes, the debate over whether the Kings will use a first-round pick on a point guard takes place on an annual basis, and this year is no exception. Jones examines whether Sacramento might have a chance to nab Providence’s Kris Dunn, or whether it would make sense for the Kings to move down and pick a point guard later in the first round.
- The Warriors are still alive in the postseason, but that doesn’t mean they’re not partially focused on the draft as well. According to Rusty Simmons of The San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link), Golden State is bringing in prospects Josh Adams, Nick Faust, Brannen Greene, Max Hooper, Fred VanVleet, and David Walker for a pre-draft workout.
The Lakers just can’t stand the idea of rebuilding through the draft. It’s something they’ve never had to do before because they could always land a huge free agent or someone would trade them a star.
Management for the Lakers is scary. They will F up the pick also. We need a head office revamp. Not Phil.
Why does everyone keep talking about what the warriors will do with a top pick? 80% chance they don’t have a first round pick this year. Enough is enough, they should be planning on what to do without a top pick…
The problem with the Lakers shopping the pick if they wind up at No. 3 is that there’s not a clearcut guy to grab in that spot after Simmons and Ingram.
That’s why they would keep it at # 1 or 2 but with both off board at 3 better to hang it out there and see what bites.
Second pick for Lakers!