2015-16 Depth Chart
PG: Jordan Clarkson/Dwight Buycks
SG: Kobe Bryant/Jabari Brown
SF: Nick Young
PF: Julius Randle/Ryan Kelly
C: Robert Sacre/Tarik Black
2015 Free Agents
SG Vander Blue (RFA)
PF Carlos Boozer
PF Ed Davis (player option)
SG Wayne Ellington
C Jordan Hill (team option)
F Wesley Johnson
PG Jeremy Lin
PG Ronnie Price
2015 Draft Picks
1-2
1-27 via Houston
2-4(34) via Orlando
Team Needs
Does "everything" suffice? The Lakers have two players under 25 that project as rotation players on a good team: Julius Randle (age 20) and Jordan Clarkson (23). Kobe is 36 and could retire next summer, Nick Young is 30 and shot 37% from the field last season, Ed Davis will likely opt out seeking a bigger contract this summer. So really, the Lakers are set with young talent at power forward, backup guard (I don't see Clarkson as a starter) and literally nowhere else. Even if they resign some of their free agents, depth is a big issue: all of their projected backs are fringe NBA players at best. Shooting is also a serious problem for the Lakers (despite what Bryon Scott believes) and will become even more of an issue if they draft a particular big man who lacks range. Despite Clarkson's relative success last season, I still see point guard as a primary area of need, however my bet would be they look towards a more experienced free agent to fill that spot than trusting it to a rookie.
1-2
1-27 via Houston
2-4(34) via Orlando
Team Needs
Does "everything" suffice? The Lakers have two players under 25 that project as rotation players on a good team: Julius Randle (age 20) and Jordan Clarkson (23). Kobe is 36 and could retire next summer, Nick Young is 30 and shot 37% from the field last season, Ed Davis will likely opt out seeking a bigger contract this summer. So really, the Lakers are set with young talent at power forward, backup guard (I don't see Clarkson as a starter) and literally nowhere else. Even if they resign some of their free agents, depth is a big issue: all of their projected backs are fringe NBA players at best. Shooting is also a serious problem for the Lakers (despite what Bryon Scott believes) and will become even more of an issue if they draft a particular big man who lacks range. Despite Clarkson's relative success last season, I still see point guard as a primary area of need, however my bet would be they look towards a more experienced free agent to fill that spot than trusting it to a rookie.
Potential Fits
As with any high pick, the Lakers need to take whomever they think is the best prospect. However, at this point it relatively safe to assume thier draft board is 1. Karl Towns, 2. Jahlil Okafor, so whichever of those two isn't drafted by Minnesota will likely be the Lakers selection, provided they don't do something foolish like trade the pick. That locks up both center and power forward while probably setting their starting lineup pre-free agency. With their late first they can go in two directions depending on their financial plans:
1. If they wish to save money for free agency, they can target a draft-and-stash prospect like Brazilian PG George Lucas or French wing Timothe Luwawu. By keeping them overseas, it keeps the guaranteed money given to a first round pick off the books until they are brought over at a later date.
2. If they want to add young, cheap talent immediately, they can basically go in any direction because of their dire need for depth at every position. Take the best players available here and in the second round, preferably with an emphasis on shooting and defense. Stanford wing Anthony Brown would make a ton of sense and could easily be the starting small forward on this team next season. His ability to make 3s at a high rate and defend on the perimeter is exactly what the spacing starved Lakers need to make thier offense run.
Mock
2. Towns/Okafor
27. Anthony Brown, G/F Stanford
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