The Lakers currently have zero picks, but it appears they hope that number can change to one.
Per Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the Lakers are aiming to acquire a second-rounder in next week’s NBA Draft.
If so, LA may want to reach out to the Hawks (No. 44 overall) and Pistons (No. 46), who are believed to have their second-rounders available, per Fischer.
The report echoes something Lakers GM Rob Pelinka outright admitted last week.
”It would be a goal for us to somehow get in the second round to get a young player that we can develop,” Pelinka said, via Jacob Rude of SB Nation. “We’ve had great success if you look at our draft history and the guys we’ve drafted and developed and we think we can do it again in 2022 if we can pull off a trade to get a pick.”
The Lakers could also potentially buy a pick, as opposed to making a deal for one. The best way to get a pick is to trade one (or two), though even future picks are something of which the Lakers are in short supply.
The possibility also exists that another team could draft a prospect and then trade him to the Lakers.
If they are to land a rookie in the draft, that seems like the most likely method. But right now, like most things involving the Lakers, it seems very much up in the air.
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