Ranking the 10 Best Players for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2014 NBA Draft
With a record of 16-30, and having lost 17 of their last 20 games, it’s safe to say that the Los Angeles Lakers won’t be winning any titles this season. However, the 2014 NBA draft has the potential to kick-start the legendary franchise on its journey back to the top. With the likes of Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker and Joel Embiid on the board, the Lakers are looking to nab a big-time player and get back on track next season.
Just last week, it was thought that the Lakers would not have a chance to get any of the expected top-three prospects in the draft. However, if the way the Lake Show has played lately is any indication of how the rest of the season is going to turn out, then none of the top prospects are out of the realm of possibility.
Only a couple of days ago, the Lakers were slotted in the ninth overall spot in the draft order. Today they are slotted in the sixth overall spot, and who knows, if they keep losing at their current pace, they could end up pretty close to the No. 1 pick.
So assuming now that the Lakers can select from any player on the board, let's have a little fun and look at who the top-10 draft pick possibilities are for the purple and gold.
Honorable Mention
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Since I’m going into this with thought in mind that the Lakers can pick any prospect on the board, these rankings are based on a mixture of overall talent and specific Lakers' needs.
Several extremely talented players were very close to making the top 10 but fell a little short. Each of these players would be a great get for the Lakers franchise.
Gary Harris—Michigan State, Sophomore Shooting Guard
Coming in at 6’4” and 210 pounds, Harris is a fantastic scoring guard out of Michigan State. Averaging 18.3 points, 4.6 boards and 2.8 assists per game, his stats are a testament to his complete overall game. He’s rock solid and should be able to contribute in the NBA from day one.
He has improved greatly since coming back for his sophomore season and will have a real shot to go in the lottery. For the Lakers, he would provide an immediate upgrade at the shooting guard spot, being a great scorer as well as a lockdown defender. He doesn’t have the immense upside as some other top prospects, but he will guarantee you solid, productive performances night in and night out.
Doug McDermott—Creighton, Senior Small Forward
McDermott is all but a lock for the Naismith National College Player of the Year Award, averaging 25 points and seven boards, while shooting 50 percent from the field, 44 percent from three and 89 percent from the charity stripe. Coming in at 6’8” and 225 pounds, the guy can flat out score.
You don’t just slide into the 18th spot on the all-time NCAA scoring list without being able to ball a little bit. The knock on him always will be his lack of quickness and athleticism, but he makes up for it with his basketball IQ. He should have a long NBA career, relying on his shooting and scoring abilities, and could be a great fit in Mike D’Antoni’s offense, spotting up for drive-and-kick threes.
Rodney Hood—Duke, Sophomore Small Forward
Hood is another scary offensive weapon in this draft. At 6’8” and 215 pounds, the lengthy guard possesses great size for the position and has a huge offensive arsenal. Don’t leave him open, because he’s shooting 45 percent from deep this season, but don’t crowd him too much either, as he’ll go right around you and attack the basket.
The Lakers would benefit greatly from having Hood, giving them a big-time scorer (averaging 17.4 ppg) who can finish in a multitude of ways, and he would immediately upgrade L.A. from the offensive liability Wesley Johnson has been this season.
10. Aaron Gordon: Arizona, Freshman Power Forward
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At 6’9” and 225 pounds, Aaron Gordon is immensely talented but still is growing as a player, especially on the offensive end. Frankly, his offensive skill set is seriously lacking. He still is learning where he should be on the court, going back and fourth between the 3 and the 4.
Where Gordon excels is on the defensive end. He is a freak athlete, an elite defender, a solid rebounder and a very good passer. Also possessing a very good motor, Gordon is sure to outwork almost anyone. To give a sense of the athlete he is, Gordon most often is compared to Blake Griffin, whose athletic ability speaks for itself.
Gordon is averaging 12 points and eight rebounds per game. He may struggle from the perimeter, but he finishes well at the basket, being where most of his points come from, on offensive rebounds and lobs.
Two places where the Lakers blatantly need help are on defense and becoming more athletic. Gordon is young, extremely athletic and an elite defender, obviously setting him up to fit in very well in Los Angeles. He immediately would fulfill those needs, along with growing his offensive game along the way.
9. Zach LaVine: UCLA, Freshman Point Guard/Shooting Guard
3 of 11Zach LaVine checks in at a nimble 6’5” and 180 pounds and possesses all of the upside in the world. His ranking on this list is almost 100 percent due to his upside, but the risk of drafting him could reap huge rewards.
LaVine averages 12 points, 2.7 assists and two boards in limited minutes for UCLA. However, in his limited minutes he has been incredibly efficient, shooting 51 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from downtown.
As you’ll see from the video, Zach LaVine possesses ridiculous athleticism. His elite athletic ability goes along with great ball-handling skills and a deadly outside jumper to form quite the package. His ability also to play either the 1 or the 2 at the next level just adds to his resume.
We’ve only seen him in small doses so far at UCLA, so he has yet to prove he can consistently deliver on big stages, but he has all the upside and potential you could want in a player.
The Lakers would welcome him with open arms. Just the excitement he would bring back to the organization with his athleticism and potential alone would be refreshing and a great boost for a franchise currently stuck in a rut. He would add another scorer on the wing, be able to play the point and fit in very well with D’Antoni’s run-and-gun system.
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8. Dario Saric: Croatia, 19-Year-Old Small Forward/Power Forward
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It could be argued that the 6’10” and 223 pound Croatian product is the most versatile prospect on the draft board. Dario Saric’s relatively unknown in the United States, but internationally, he’s already a well-known commodity and is only getting better.
He has been tearing up the much-respected Adriatic League, averaging 15.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. For anyone who hasn’t seen him yet, I would suggest checking out this highlight video.
Saric is not an elite athlete and will need to improve his jumper just a bit. However, he possesses great size for the wing position, phenomenal court vision, great ball-handling skills, solid rebounding and acts as a consistent and reliable scorer.
He would fit right in with the Lakers as either a big small forward or a stretch 4. With the multitude of skills he possesses, he would be an automatic upgrade, especially on the wing, and he would most likely start from the get-go.
7. Julius Randle: Kentucky, Freshman Power Forward
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At 6’9” and 250 pounds, Julius Randle is a beast on the college level. However, many people have recently been questioning if he will be able to produce in the same way at the next level.
The guy is a walking double-double machine, literally averaging 16.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. While his numbers are great, he blatantly struggles against bigger and longer defenders. He has short arms for a big man with a 6'11'' wingspan, and he struggles finishing over longer, more athletic defenders.
However, Randle’s pros far outweigh his cons. He is arguably the most NBA-ready player available. He has a pro-ready body, is an elite rebounder, contains a relentless motor and can score as a face-up 4 or with his back to the basket.
For the Lakers, he would come in and immediately provide a physical presence that the Lakers haven’t had in quite a while. Although he can struggle against bigger, longer defenders, I believe his motor and athleticism will allow him to succeed. He would be a great addition for the Lakers, adding toughness and a solid presence down low.
6. Noah Vonleh: Indiana, Freshman Power Forward/Center
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At 6’10” and 240 pounds, with a 7’4” wingspan, Noah Vonleh has an NBA-ready body, and he is still only 18 years old. One of the more intriguing prospects on the board, Vonleh is starting to make some serious noise as the draft approaches.
The young freshman is a warrior in the paint with a great motor. He is a terrific rebounder and defender and possesses a solid perimeter game. He’s surprisingly a decent ball-handler and shows nice potential in his perimeter shooting, making nine out of his last 12 three-point attempts.
He averages 12 points and 9.6 rebounds in only 25 minutes per game. The biggest knock on Vonleh is that he is still quite raw offensively, but with him constantly improving throughout the season and Indiana sure to continue giving him more touches, his potential is endless.
For the Lakers, Vonleh would provide an immediate defensive and rebounding presence down low that the Lakers lack entirely. Even with his raw offensive game, Vonleh would be favored to start right away based on his size, motor and defensive capability.
Maybe the Lakers would even be able to string together a couple of defensive stops in a row with Vonleh in the middle.
5. Marcus Smart: Oklahoma State, Point Guard/Shooting Guard
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Smart is a combo guy, able to play the 1 and the 2, but he mostly will be used at the point in the NBA. At 6’4” and 225 pounds, Smart is very strong and physical, and to put it frankly, he is a straight-up beast.
Marcus Smart is the most competitive college basketball player I have ever seen and possesses an incredible motor. When he has the ball in his hands, he’s a fantastic penetrator and a good finisher. He’s a very good rebounder for a guard and is a lockdown defender that’s always causing havoc, averaging 2.5 steals per game.
So far in his sophomore campaign, Smart is averaging 17.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists. The only real knock on him is that he needs to be more consistent with his perimeter shooting.
For the Lakers, he would be an absolutely great fit, providing his physicality, defense, playmaking abilities and relentless motor to a team that is lacking in nearly all of those categories. With the Lakers' backcourt in question, Smart would challenge for starter minutes from day one.
4. Andrew Wiggins: Kansas, Shooting Guard/Small Forward
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Andrew Wiggins has been on a roller coaster during his freshman year in college. He came in hyped up as the next LeBron James, and then he struggled through the beginning of the year, creating a media circus filled with doubters. Now, however, he is finally living up to the hype and playing significantly better.
Averaging 16.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, the wiry wing player is immensely talented. He may be the most athletic player on the draft board, possessing an incredible first step and an elite leaping ability. He is the best transition player in the country.
With his skill set, Wiggins also thrives as a superb defender. The biggest knock on him is his lack of offensive assertiveness. He’ll have games where he looks like the No. 1 overall pick, and then he has games where you don’t even know he’s in the building. When his offensive mentality grows more dominant, he could become a superstar in the NBA.
For the Lakers, Wiggins would be outstanding. His young and athletic frame and his ability to defend, score and get up and down in transition would be great in the Lakers’ system. He would also be a big name, able to jolt some life back into a Lakers franchise that is down at the moment. He would, without question, be a starter from day one.
3. Dante Exum: Australia, Point Guard/Shooting Guard
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If Dante Exum was playing in the United States right now, rather than Australia, he would be highly considered for the No. 1 overall pick. The 6’6”, 188-pound guard can flat out play.
He has unique size and length for a point guard, and he is able to play either the 1 or the 2 whenever necessary. He has supreme athleticism, and he is a great penetrator, a good passer and an outstanding finisher.
Not everyone knows how good Exum is yet, but when he arrives, he’ll take the NBA by storm. The only knocks on him are that he needs to add a little bit of strength and improve his consistency on his perimeter jump shot.
For the Lakers, Exum would be extraordinary. As an automatic upgrade at either the L.A. point guard or shooting guard spot, he would bring much hype and excitement to a Lakers franchise that certainly needs help.
He would be able to learn under the Black Mamba for a year or two and flourish into a sure-fire future All-Star.
2. Jabari Parker: Duke, Freshman Small Forward
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Coming in at a solid 6’8” and 235 pounds, Jabari Parker is the most NBA-ready player on the board. Although hitting a slump early in January, he since has regained some of his swagger and is back to playing like the All-American candidate that he is.
Averaging 18.8 points and 8.1 boards per game, Parker has one of the most complete games of any freshman ever to play college basketball.
He is very skilled and is blessed with elite basketball instincts and a high basketball IQ. Every skill you can think of, he possesses. He’s a good shooter, a very good ball-handler for his size, a solid rebounder at the 3, has a very good motor and is an extremely high-character guy.
His game is most often compared to Carmelo Anthony’s. The knocks on Parker are that as an athlete, he is good, but not great, and he is just an average defender. He will improve on defense as he matures, and he can get away with not being as dynamic of an athlete because of his overflowing arsenal of offensive skills.
For the Lakers, they need someone who can come in and contribute right away, and Parker is the perfect guy for the job. The most NBA-ready player on the board would come in and not only contribute right away, but Parker would become a star for the Lake Show.
He’d bring excitement. The storyline would be about him playing alongside Kobe Bryant. He’d provide the Lakers with a first-class scorer who is destined to become an NBA All-Star.
1. Joel Embiid: Kansas, Freshman Center
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I think the question is simple for Lakers fans: Do you want Robert Sacre as the starting center next year? Because that’s what it currently looks like, which is a very disturbing thought.
Joel Embiid is a monster. At 7’0'' and 250 pounds, his game and background are eerily similar to that of the great Hakeem Olajuwon.
Embiid’s coordination, natural athleticism and footwork down low are better than any big man I’ve ever witnessed in the collegiate ranks. He’s extremely long, making him an elite shot-blocker and rebounder. For someone who only has played organized basketball for three years, he has an impressive feel for the game.
Check out Embiid pulling off the “Dream Shake” move.
The only knocks against Embiid are his lack of game experience and how he needs a tad more strength.
The Lakers obviously would need a small miracle to end up with the No. 1 pick, but with their current losing streak, it’s not an impossibility. Embiid would come in and be a major contributor right away for any team, but especially for the Lakers, who are in desperate need of a big-time presence down low.
Embiid could be the cornerstone of the future for the purple and gold and has all the potential to be an All-Star for many years to come.
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