What Pick Do the Lakers Have in the 2023 NBA Draft?
Lakers #Lakers
The NBA Lottery is finally upon us. After a long year of teams tanking for French superstar Victor Wembanyama, we finally will know what team he’s going to spend at least the beginning of his career with.
The Wembanyama sweepstakes never meant anything to the Lakers, as their pick swap with the New Orleans Pelicans prevented them from ever having a chance at landing the No. 1 overall pick, barring a trade.
However, the lottery means even less to the Lakers now, considering they’re doing much more important things today, like getting set for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets.
Speaking of that pick swap, though, since the Pelicans are in the lottery and the Lakers are not, that swap means absolutely nothing. The Lakers already have their pick set, while the Pelicans have an outside, outside, outside chance of landing the top pick and Wembanyama.
As for the Lakers’ picks, they have two in the upcoming draft, both their own.
In the first round, the Lakers be drafting at No. 17 overall. In the second round, they’ll be selecting the No. 47 overall pick.
This year is a loaded draft class, so the Lakers are sure to find some great talent, especially in the first round. Moreover, the Lakers are known for their incredible scouting department, so don’t be surprised to see that second-round pick turn into something too, if they make the pick, that is.
The Lakers will likely try to be very active on the trade market, as they meticulously put together a winning team for next year. The way this year ends will likely have a strong impact on what the team does in the offseason, but it’s safe to assume they’ll want to bring most of their current team back in 2024.
If that’s the case, there won’t be a ton of room for rookies, especially with Max Christie still waiting on the bench, likely getting an expanded role next season. Still, the Lakers will always be looking for more young talent, and this is a great year for them to load up a little bit more.