Lake Show Life
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Lakers’ future hangs in the balance at draft lottery

By Asha Doucet

Apr 7, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers president for basketball operations acknowledges the fans as he attends the game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center. Lakers won 98-94. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers president for basketball operations acknowledges the fans as he attends the game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center. Lakers won 98-94. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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In just a few hours the 2017 NBA draft lottery will be conducted and the Los Angeles Lakers will know their fate. A top-three pick will bring a new hope to L.A. while falling out of the top three could mean several more bad years.

Magic Johnson will represent the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA Draft Lottery Tuesday night and the organization sure could use some magic.

Because of the Steve Nash sign-and-trade with the Phoenix Suns  and the Dwight Howard multi-team trade with the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers in 2012, the Lakers could be without a first-round pick in two of the next three drafts if the ping pong balls don’t bounce their way Tuesday night.

Their pick this year is top-three protected and with the the third-worst record in the NBA at 26-56, L.A. has a 46.9 percent chance that their pick stays in the top three. Otherwise, the pick gets sent to the Philadelphia 76ers (who acquired the pick from Phoenix in a 2015 trade).

But the reason this draft is so important for the Lakers isn’t just about their chances at nabbing the likes of Lonzo Ball (UCLA), Markelle Fultz (Washington), Josh Jackson (Kansas) or De’Aaron Fox (Kentucky).  This draft’s real importance lies in the flexibility it could give the Lakers.

Although the aforementioned draftees are great talents and even may become transcendental players, they are all still young works in progress. None of them would thrust L.A. into contention overnight.

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But what a top-three pick gives the Lakers is options. L.A. would have the luxury of evaluating their pick’s talent and deciding whether keeping them would be more beneficial or if putting them on the trade block would be.

None of the Lakers’ players are safe at this point with Rob Pelinka and Magic Johnson reportedly willing to move anyone for the right deal. With that being said, a top-three pick is yet another asset for the Lakers to rebuild around with or without.

If L.A. can add another top prospect to their pool of young talent they may be headed into a fruitful offseason of potential trades. That means bringing in established stars and veterans to put around the young players they keep.

So yes, the Lakers need to keep their pick, but not because one of the top-three draftees will be their savior. Rather, it’s because another pick gives them room the flexibility so desperately needed during a rebuilding project as extensive as theirs.

Related Story: Lakers 2016-17 Keepers

Do you think the Lakers can rebuild with or without the top pick? If they fall out of the top-three in the draft, what is their best chance at improving in the offseason? Let us know what you think below.

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