Lakers Trade Rumors: 'Increasing Likelihood' LAL Deal No. 17 Draft Pick
Don't be surprised if the Los Angeles Lakers move the No. 17 pick in the NBA draft on Thursday.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, "there is an increasing likelihood" the Lakers will trade the first-round selection.
It wouldn't be a surprise if the Lakers chose to trade that pick for some more veteran help.
The roster heading into the 2023-24 season currently consists of LeBron James (assuming he doesn't retire), Anthony Davis, Malik Beasley (a major candidate to get cut given his non-guaranteed contract), Mo Bamba (also a cut candidate given a non-guaranteed deal), Jarred Vanderbilt, Max Christie and Shaquille Harrison.
Both Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura are both restricted free agents, meanwhile, and the team will likely either try to sign the pair outright or keep enough cap space to match any offer sheets they sign.
It remains up in the air if either Dennis Schröder or D'Angelo Russell is re-signed, though Russell's inconsistent postseason (13.3 PPG, 31 percent from three) and poor defense makes him an easy option to move on from this summer.
The goal for the Lakers is simple: Surround James and Davis with as much complementary talent as possible. In the wake of the Lakers being swept by the eventual champion Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns building a superstar trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, that goal has become all the more relevant.
Outside of the No. 17 overall pick, however, the team doesn't have many great trade assets. So if the Lakers are going to build a contender, it will be through a draft-day trade and some savvy free-agent maneuvering.
