Lakers Rumors: 1st-Round NBA Draft Pick Eyed as Trade Chip for 'Immediate Upgrades'

The Los Angeles Lakers have the chance to build for the future by adding a top prospect with the No. 17 pick in this month's NBA draft, but they're reportedly focused on the present and could look to flip the selection for a veteran player.

According to The Athletic's Sam Vecenie, their first-round pick "is another one many believe is ripe to be moved as the Lakers scour the trade market for immediate upgrades around LeBron James and Anthony Davis."

There was a chance Los Angeles wouldn't have had control of the No. 17 pick, as the New Orleans Pelicans owned the right to take its first-rounder this year, but they opted to defer the pick to 2025.

L..A is a win-now team that is looking to contend for a title as James' legendary career winds down. The team is searching for a new head coach after firing Darvin Ham following its 47-35 finish to the 2023-24 season that ended with a loss to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.

If the Lakers opt to keep the No. 17 pick, Vecenie predicted they would use it to select Colorado forward Tristan da Silva, writing that the 23-year-old "ticks a lot of boxes that make him profile well as a solid rotation player in today's NBA."

The presence of James' son, Bronny, also makes things interesting for Los Angeles. The 39-year-old has long expressed a desire to play alongside his son before his career ends, so he could convince the team to select the former USC guard.

While the 17th pick would be a reach for Bronny, B/R's Jonathan Wasserman predicted in his latest mock draft that the Lakers would select him with the No. 55 pick in the second round.

General manager Rob Pelinka is facing some crucial decisions, as the draft is quickly approaching on June 26-27.