The Los Angeles Lakers are slated to pick 17th and 47th overall in next week’s NBA Draft. For general manager Rob Pelinka and Co., this is a rare opportunity to add more young players to the mix as the team prepares for the eventual end of the LeBron James era.
It’s in this that the Lakers are active ahead of the draft a week from Thursday. According to Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo of ESPN, Los Angeles is talking with several teams who boast multiple draft picks about a move down from the 17th spot.
Per the report, Los Angeles wants to add an additional prospect to the mix. As of right now, the Lakers have only James, Anthony Davis, Jarred Vanderbilt, Shaquille Harrison and Max Christie under contract for next season. It also has team options on Malik Beasley and Mo Bamba.
As you can see, there’s a lack of young talent on the Lakers’ roster. And while they will fill a ton of roster holes via free agency, adding prospect to the mix should be in the cards.
Related: 2023 Los Angeles Lakers draft preview
Los Angeles Lakers trade partners in the 2023 NBA Draft
The Indiana Pacers are slated to have three first-round picks next week. In addition to the seventh selection, that includes picks 26 and 29. Perhaps, Indiana looks to add another premium prospect at 17 while giving up 26 and 29. Indiana also has the 32nd and 55th picks in the second round to entice Los Angeles.
Another team with two first-round picks is the Brooklyn Nets. They will select 21st and 22nd. The Nets are said to be looking to move up in the first round with the Lakers being a potential trade partner.
The defending champion Denver Nuggets pulled off rare trade during the 2023 NBA Finals. It netted them the 37th selection as well as a first-and-second round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. There’s a chance that the Lakers could be interested in acquiring the 37th and 40th picks next week in addition to the first-round pick Denver acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder in that aforementioned trade.
Noticing a theme here? There are a ton of options for the Los Angeles Lakers with the 2023 NBA Draft now roughly a week away.