Best/Worst Draft Scenarios
(#2 pick)
Best Case Scenario: Drafting C Jahlil Okafor (Duke, Freshman)
Yes, if Karl-Anthony Towns somehow fell to them, the Lakers would have a tough decision on their hands. And yes, this is best case scenarios. However, I still maintain that Okafor is a better fit for LA than Towns. A dominant low-post scorer, Okafor averaged 17.3 points per game on a ridiculous 66.4% shooting. He also chipped in 8.5 rebounds per game, and though he does have some issues, is a better defender than given credit for: 1.4 blocks and 0.8 steals per game, with plenty of room to grow on that end of the court. The main knock on him is his horrendous free throw shooting, as he only connected on 51% of them, but again: he has room to grow in that department as well. Despite Towns’ incredible defensive skills, the Lakers are going to need a go-to scorer in their post-Kobe era. Look no further than a national champion.
Worst Case Scenario: Trading the pick in an attempt to send Kobe Bryant out with a bang
Somehow having Towns on the board and taking him would not be a bad pick. Neither would drafting PG/SG D’Angelo Russell, in an effort to groom Kobe’s long-term replacement at shooting guard. PG Emmanuel Mudiay really wouldn’t make much sense, however, as rookie PG Jordan Clarkson was sensational. This would not be as bad as trading the pick in exchange for veterans, however, and to try and give Kobe one last ride. The Lakers need to realize that at this moment, they are not a premier free agent destination, coming off a terrible season. Kobe is on his last legs and injury-prone. The Lakers play in the brutal Western Conference. I could go on. Trading the pick to accelerate their rebuilding process would be a terrible mistake and would mortgage their future. Instead, LA should be happy that it did well in the lottery, and add a big name via the draft to a promising young core that already features Clarkson and fellow rookie PF Julius Randle.
Second Pick
(#27 pick)
Best Case Scenario: Drafting SG Rashad Vaughn (UNLV, Freshman)
Of all my projections for the late first round, I love this fit best. Assuming they take C Jahlil Okafor with the number two pick, the Lakers will still have one unanswered question surrounding the future of the promising young core of PG Jordan Clarkson, PF Julius Randle, and Okafor: who will take over at shooting guard for Kobe Bryant in the post-Kobe era? I couldn’t think of a more optimal fit in this entire draft (proportionally, considering the value) than Vaughn. The 18 year old kid is a young, energetic, dynamic scorer, just like Kobe. He also resembles the Black Mamba in his ability to score anywhere and in any way: beyond the arc, mid-range, inside, slashing to the basket, off the dribble, and more. He’s also very strong and athletic, and these natural gifts help him become a solid defender and giving himself tremendous upside considering how young and talented he is as well. The one knock on Vaughn is his discipline, as he can have a bit of an ego, taking too many shots, lacking a strong work ethic, and have a questionable attitude at times. This is a major turn-off for most teams, which is what causes him to fall this far, but he’s still a young kid and playing with Kobe should solve all attitude issues. It’s not often that you can take a shot at replacing a legend with a relatively worthless late-round draft pick, but that’s exactly what the Lakers can do here as they prepare for a post-Kobe era in Los Angeles.
Worst Case Scenario: Wing players, PG Tyus Jones, all gone
Starting in the early 20s, there’s a slew of players that the Lakers would be satisfied with: SF Justin Anderson, SF Rondae-Hollis Jefferson, SG R.J. Hunter, even PG Tyus Jones, and of course: SG Rashad Vaughn. The Lakers could really use another prospect anywhere, though on the wing would be best. However, there are just enough teams picking ahead of them that the Lakers may lose out on one of these guys. Still, most experts see a major drop-off in talent coming at the pick after the Lakers, with PG/SG Delon Wright (Utah, Senior) joining the others in their tier. However, Wright is not the kind of guy that Los Angeles is targeting, although they’d probably have to settle for him, lest they go high-risk/high-reward on a guy like C Robert Upshaw or PF/C Cliff Alexander, but those two are likely early second-rounders as opposed to the late first. Wright is an imposing figure that stands 6’6”, huge for a point guard, and this helps him to be an excellent rebounder for his position (5 per game) , in addition to being a steal machine on defense (2 per game) while also piling up a block a game. His most important attribute is his passing ability and vision, as he excels at setting the table for his teammates with 5 assists nightly. He’s an average three-point shooter at 35%, but still not a great one, but is outstanding at driving to the basket, drawing contact, and hitting his free throws. Aside from the aforementioned good-but-not-great jump-shot, Wright lacks elite athleticism, which hinders his ability to score at the rim. Above all, the kid is 23 years old, quite a few years older than his fellow prospects, which impedes his potential development, something he might need to do a fair amount of if he hopes to become a star in this league. For a Laker team that would rather just take the guy with the highest upside rather than the one who can contribute immediately, Wright is an okay, but certainly not optimal, pick.
(#2 pick)
Best Case Scenario: Drafting C Jahlil Okafor (Duke, Freshman)
Yes, if Karl-Anthony Towns somehow fell to them, the Lakers would have a tough decision on their hands. And yes, this is best case scenarios. However, I still maintain that Okafor is a better fit for LA than Towns. A dominant low-post scorer, Okafor averaged 17.3 points per game on a ridiculous 66.4% shooting. He also chipped in 8.5 rebounds per game, and though he does have some issues, is a better defender than given credit for: 1.4 blocks and 0.8 steals per game, with plenty of room to grow on that end of the court. The main knock on him is his horrendous free throw shooting, as he only connected on 51% of them, but again: he has room to grow in that department as well. Despite Towns’ incredible defensive skills, the Lakers are going to need a go-to scorer in their post-Kobe era. Look no further than a national champion.
Worst Case Scenario: Trading the pick in an attempt to send Kobe Bryant out with a bang
Somehow having Towns on the board and taking him would not be a bad pick. Neither would drafting PG/SG D’Angelo Russell, in an effort to groom Kobe’s long-term replacement at shooting guard. PG Emmanuel Mudiay really wouldn’t make much sense, however, as rookie PG Jordan Clarkson was sensational. This would not be as bad as trading the pick in exchange for veterans, however, and to try and give Kobe one last ride. The Lakers need to realize that at this moment, they are not a premier free agent destination, coming off a terrible season. Kobe is on his last legs and injury-prone. The Lakers play in the brutal Western Conference. I could go on. Trading the pick to accelerate their rebuilding process would be a terrible mistake and would mortgage their future. Instead, LA should be happy that it did well in the lottery, and add a big name via the draft to a promising young core that already features Clarkson and fellow rookie PF Julius Randle.
Second Pick
(#27 pick)
Best Case Scenario: Drafting SG Rashad Vaughn (UNLV, Freshman)
Of all my projections for the late first round, I love this fit best. Assuming they take C Jahlil Okafor with the number two pick, the Lakers will still have one unanswered question surrounding the future of the promising young core of PG Jordan Clarkson, PF Julius Randle, and Okafor: who will take over at shooting guard for Kobe Bryant in the post-Kobe era? I couldn’t think of a more optimal fit in this entire draft (proportionally, considering the value) than Vaughn. The 18 year old kid is a young, energetic, dynamic scorer, just like Kobe. He also resembles the Black Mamba in his ability to score anywhere and in any way: beyond the arc, mid-range, inside, slashing to the basket, off the dribble, and more. He’s also very strong and athletic, and these natural gifts help him become a solid defender and giving himself tremendous upside considering how young and talented he is as well. The one knock on Vaughn is his discipline, as he can have a bit of an ego, taking too many shots, lacking a strong work ethic, and have a questionable attitude at times. This is a major turn-off for most teams, which is what causes him to fall this far, but he’s still a young kid and playing with Kobe should solve all attitude issues. It’s not often that you can take a shot at replacing a legend with a relatively worthless late-round draft pick, but that’s exactly what the Lakers can do here as they prepare for a post-Kobe era in Los Angeles.
Worst Case Scenario: Wing players, PG Tyus Jones, all gone
Starting in the early 20s, there’s a slew of players that the Lakers would be satisfied with: SF Justin Anderson, SF Rondae-Hollis Jefferson, SG R.J. Hunter, even PG Tyus Jones, and of course: SG Rashad Vaughn. The Lakers could really use another prospect anywhere, though on the wing would be best. However, there are just enough teams picking ahead of them that the Lakers may lose out on one of these guys. Still, most experts see a major drop-off in talent coming at the pick after the Lakers, with PG/SG Delon Wright (Utah, Senior) joining the others in their tier. However, Wright is not the kind of guy that Los Angeles is targeting, although they’d probably have to settle for him, lest they go high-risk/high-reward on a guy like C Robert Upshaw or PF/C Cliff Alexander, but those two are likely early second-rounders as opposed to the late first. Wright is an imposing figure that stands 6’6”, huge for a point guard, and this helps him to be an excellent rebounder for his position (5 per game) , in addition to being a steal machine on defense (2 per game) while also piling up a block a game. His most important attribute is his passing ability and vision, as he excels at setting the table for his teammates with 5 assists nightly. He’s an average three-point shooter at 35%, but still not a great one, but is outstanding at driving to the basket, drawing contact, and hitting his free throws. Aside from the aforementioned good-but-not-great jump-shot, Wright lacks elite athleticism, which hinders his ability to score at the rim. Above all, the kid is 23 years old, quite a few years older than his fellow prospects, which impedes his potential development, something he might need to do a fair amount of if he hopes to become a star in this league. For a Laker team that would rather just take the guy with the highest upside rather than the one who can contribute immediately, Wright is an okay, but certainly not optimal, pick.