Lakers' Ideal 2023 NBA Mock Draft and Players to Target in Draft-Day Trades
In a perfect world, the Los Angeles Lakers would use the 2023 NBA offseason to get their roster to a championship level.
Based on what this group showed after the trade deadline—a second-half surge that eventually carried it to the Western Conference Finals—that's absolutely a possibility.
But the Lakers will need to make one correct decision after another to get this right. Championship paths are treacherous to the point that there is no margin for error.
Let's start to dial up an ideal offseason by identifying the perfect prospects at L.A.'s two draft slots, then highlighting two players who could be targeted in draft-night deals.
Ideal Mock Draft
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17. Jordan Hawkins, SG, UConn
LeBron James has always won biggest when surrounded by shooters, and Jordan Hawkins is one of the best marksmen in this draft. The 6'5" sharpshooter just helped steer the Huskies to a national title by splashing 109 triples at a 38.8 percent clip.
He stays in perpetual motion off the ball and doesn't need long to launch his picturesque jumpers. His activity alone would draw defenders his way, and he could provide smaller (but important) contributions as a cutter, transition attacker and willing defender.
47. Julian Strawther, SF, Gonzaga
Three seasons at Gonzaga could have prepared Julian Strawther to step into a rotation role on opening night. His polish and poise would be big selling points for the Purple and Gold, which could also target him for shot-making, floor-spacing, team defense and a pinch of playmaking.
His upside isn't enormous, but the Lakers can live with that. If he helps expand next season's wing rotation, the front office will have done its job.
Trade Target: Myles Turner
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Myles Turner has been a logical trade target for the Lakers for quite some time, and he might be as gettable as ever at the draft. The Indiana Pacers possess five draft picks, including three in the first round, which could finally convince them to fully commit to a youth movement.
If Turner is up for grabs, the Lakers should be all over him.
There aren't a lot of players who can match Turner's combination of size, shot-blocking and floor-spacing. That means L.A. could improve its shooting without sacrificing length or defense. In fact, the Lakers could be bigger and stingier than ever with a Turner-James-Anthony Davis frontcourt.
Turner could be a dream screen-setter for James, since he can pop out to the perimeter or roll and finish at the rim. Defensively, Turner would be the ultimate insurance policy if the Lakers had breakdowns on the perimeter.
Trade Target: Bojan Bogdanović
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While the Detroit Pistons have hardly seemed in a rush to trade Bojan Bogdanović, they may have a hard time justifying his presence after the draft.
This young team is poised to get even younger with the Pistons holding the Nos. 5 and 31 picks. These prospects and all of the up-and-comers already residing in the Motor City will need floor time and touches to develop. Both could be harder to come by as long as Bogdanović is with the team.
The 34-year-old ranked second on the squad this past season in average minutes (32.1) and field-goal attempts (14.9). Among rotation regulars, he also landed second in usage percentage (25.9), per Basketball Reference.
It might be time for both the Pistons and Bogdanović to embrace a split, which could be great news for the Lakers. The veteran scoring forward is a career 39.4 percent three-point shooter who can create for himself and his teammates in a complementary role.
