In an attempt to add more quality depth for next season, the Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly pulled off a notable deal to move up in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Heading into Thursday’s NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers actually owned picks in both rounds of the event. Yet there have been various rumors surrounding what the organization would do with its selections at 17 and 47 this year.
Related: 2023 NBA mock draft – Final Rounds 1-2 predictions for the NBA Draft
There has been a great deal of speculation they could use the picks in trades to add veterans to the roster, but there have also been rumors they could actually trade up in round one or try and land a second selection in the first 30 picks. On Thursday, the Los Angeles Lakers did make a draft trade, however, it was none of the above.
Los Angeles Lakers trade up to pick 40 in second round of 2023 NBA Draft
ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski was one of the first to report that the Lakers and Indiana Pacers agreed to a deal that would seem them swap their selections in the second round and the Pacers also gain $4.35 million in the agreement.
Heading into tonight’s NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers will now have picks 17 and 40 in the event. There are several talented players that could still be available to the organization when they are on the board for the second time in the Draft.
All-SEC freshman from Tennessee Julian Phillips, seven-foot Serbian big man Tristan Vukcevic, and ACC player of the year Marcus Sasser could all be potential targets for Los Angeles with their pick at 40.