LA Lakers 2012 NBA Draft Picks: Grades, Results and Analysis

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2012 NBA Draft updates and analysis will be brought to fans of all 30 NBA franchises by Bleacher Report.

Here you will find all the information you need for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Pages will be added periodically for every move the Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak and the rest of the front office out in LA. Check back often for updates, including analysis on any trades, player information and analysis on any player drafted.

Don't forget to look at the final slide. Draft grades will be assigned for every selection and move, along with the overall grade for the Lakers' 2012 draft.

Lakers Draft Plans

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With no cap space, millions of dollars dripping over the luxury tax line and constant uncertainty over who will be a part of this Lakers team next season, the Lakers seem to be interested in building through the draft for the first time in years.

Since the Lakers start out the day with no draft picks in the first round and only the Mr. Irrelevant selection at their disposal with the 60th pick in the draft.

While in the hours leading up to the draft the Lakers continue to be without a first-rounder, that doesn't mean they won't be trying to get into the first round.

The Lakers have been rumored to be looking to get the Lakers into the first round to grab either of Baylor's forwards, Perry Jones III or Quincy Miller.

In order to grab one of the two interesting forwards, LA has been said to have been shopping forward Metta World Peace for a late first-rounder, but nobody has bitten on that offer as of yet.

Finally, in a trade that has been trying to happen for nearly a year now, Los Angeles is once again shopping Pau Gasol, this time looking for a top-10 pick in return.

With all the uncertainty, it could end up that the Lakers ultimately do nothing tonight, but be sure they need to do something before the season starts to update their team.

They've got a huge hole at the small forward spot and holes all throughout their bench. More than anything, they just need to get younger.

No. 55: Darius Johnson-Odom, SG, Marquette

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Grade: C

Darius Johnson-Odom was selected with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks, but the team did not hold onto his draft rights for very long.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports! reports that the Lakers have purchased the rights to Johnson-Odom, a highly-athletic guard out of Marquette.

In Johnson-Odom, the Lakers could finally get a sorely needed backup behind Kobe Bryant, but the rookie's best chance at finding steady playing time will be as a defensive stopper.

It will certainly be interesting to see how he's utilized and if he can learn anything while playing under the Black Mamba.

No. 60 Pick, Robert Sacre, C, Gonzaga

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Grade: B

As far as 60th overall picks go, this is a pretty darn good one. If you can get a guy who plays tough defense, blocks some shots and stands his ground down low, you've got to go for it.

Robert Sacre is no athlete, but he's no louse on the floor either.

As far as defense goes, he's smart. He may not be a great rebounder and his arms may be a little bit short, but he's going to play smart defense and he's going to be a good backup big man in the future.

Offensively, Sacre has some post moves, although he didn't get the ball in the post all that often in college, as he was a pretty darn good shooter.

Final Analysis

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Final Grade: B-

Let's be realistic: what were the Lakers really going to do heading into this draft?

There continues to be heavily speculation around a potential Pau Gasol trade, but the Lakers were never going to come out of this draft with an impact prospect given the current construction of the team's roster.

Given that the club is in "win-now" mode, no young player is going to come in and make an instant impact on a regular basis.

The team was able to come away with an intriguing athlete and another seven-footer, but it's hard to see a scenario where either figures into the Lakers' plans immediately.