Will the Lakers trade the pick or draft a player?
Cahill – There is a very good chance, in my mind, that the pick will be traded. As discussed before, the Lakers need talent now and in a draft like this, there will be no shortage of suitors looking to trade up. But if the pick is in that top-three range, that’s a potentially generational talent – one that the Lakers should draft, regardless of the Kobe situation. Thinking here of Embiid, Wiggins and, perhaps, Dante Exum.
Apr 11, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 119-116. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Lopez –Paging Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. If the Lakers do choose to trade the pick, it would have to be for one of those players. I don’t think picking at number 6 is enough to trade for a player of that caliber. It would have to be a top 3 pick and at that point I believe the Lakers would be in a better position to draft their guy and try to wait out Kevin Love, who becomes a free agent the following summer. I expect the Lakers to use their draft pick this year.
Morales – The Lakers will only trade a pick if they get a lower pick and an All Star player with it. So unless Kyrie is walking through that door the pick stays.
Rude – The more the Love-to-Lakers rumors persist, the more scared I become the Lakers might actually trade their pick for Kevin Love. As is, it’d take some tricky reworking with the Lakers needing to receive a first-rounder this year. But I think it’s just bluffing on either Love’s part or the Lakers. The only way they truly explore trading the pick is if they get the 8th or 9th pick.