Trade season may still be upon us, but it’s never too early to begin thinking about the 2024 NBA Draft. In what is considered a pivotal offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers, headlined by LeBron James’s $51.4 million Player Option, improvement is priority no. 1 for the front office. That could be even more important depending on how this troubling campaign shakes out.
One area the Lakers will need to focus on is the 2024 NBA Draft. Here’s their situation as it stands right now, and the prospects they could target as June approaches.
Los Angeles Lakers: Looking Ahead to the 2024 Draft
The Lakers’ First-Round Pick Situation
Because of the blockbuster Anthony Davis trade from 2019, New Orleans controls LA’s 2024 first-round pick. The Pelicans must decide what to do with that pick prior to draft night, but they’ll consider multiple factors, according to Lakers Nation:
“Of course, the Pelicans will consider the Lakers’ place in the 2024 draft order and where they expect L.A. to land in 2025, but that can’t be their only consideration. Additional determining factors may include the flexibility and expense of the Pelicans’ roster, the depth of the draft in the range the Lakers would be projected to pick, and New Orleans’s urgency for trade assets in the event they want to swing a draft day deal in 2024.”
As of right now, the pick is projected to be in the late lottery range, which may incentivize the Pels to use it sooner rather than later. Still, a lot can happen between now and June 26. Luckily, the Lakers still have a chance in the second-round, where they’ve found some solid prospects in the past.
The Lakers’ Second-Round Pick: What Mock Drafts Are Saying
As of right now, the Lakers own the Clippers’ 2024 second-round pick, which is projected to fall between the mid-40s and mid-50s. The team could prioritize wings and centers—should they choose to keep the pick—and various outlets have them taking solid rookies available in that range.
Bleacher Report’s latest mock has LA taking Arkansas big man Trevon Brazile with the 54th pick. The 6-foot-9 bruiser has averaged 8.9 points and 6.5 rebounds as he makes his way back from a torn ACL. Prior to the injury, he averaged 11 points, six rebounds, and one block in nine games. The setback hindered his offensive development, but Brazile has remained a promising player. There’s no doubt he can return to the athlete he was pre-injury, and he should be on the Lakers’ radar as time goes on.
NBA Draft Room, meanwhile, has the Lakers going after sharpshooters among the 2024 draft class. They have LA taking Indiana wing Mackenzie Mgbako with the 45th overall pick. Mgbako is a first-year forward averaging nearly 11 points (39% FG, 32% 3PT, 84% FT), 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists. The numbers may say one thing, but the film says another. Mgbako tallied 18 points and pulled down eight rebounds against Harvard on Nov. 26, getting to his spots and scoring primarily off the catch. His offensive versatility makes him a unique pick, especially at 19 years old. Sports Illustrated also noted that he has “the tools to be a great modern forward, but also the throwback power forward skillset sprinkled in.” Though Mgbako could very well be a first-round talent, the Lakers should still keep an eye on the one-and-done wing.
Could the Lakers Still Trade Their 2024 Pick?
The Lakers could still trade the second-round pick to try and land Dejounte Murray, Royce O’Neale, or any of the other players they’ve been targeting as of late. They could also move on from their 2029 first-round pick or second-rounders in the near future (e.g. two in 2025). But if the Lakers want to develop another rookie, they at least have this mid-to-late second-round pick in their arsenal.
