Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Julius Randle (Kentucky) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number seven overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Selections 2013-2014
2013:
Ryan Kelly (48th): Are you starting to see a trend here? The Lakers hadn’t used a pick in the first round since 2007. Two-thousand and seven! Sure a couple players (like Kelly) have shown flashes where they outplayed their draft position, but relying on that is how the organization found itself so devoid of young talent. (Grade: C)
Again, drafting only once and so low, the Lakers didn’t miss on anyone in particular, though a case could be made for James Ennis (50th).
2014:
Julius Randle (7th): Easily the most depressing aspect of last season was watching it take place without Randle. His freak injury set the tone for the worst season in franchise history. Still, he showed plenty of talent in summer league and preseason and will look to bounce back in 2015-16. (Grade: Incomplete)
Jordan Clarkson (46th): Thank goodness for this kid. Clarkson was acquired in the same kind of draft salary dump that got the Lakers into this kind of predicament in the first place. Clarkson is that rare occurrence where other teams list a Laker on a “Player the ____s missed” chart. (Grade: A)
Players who the Lakers Missed: It’s literally impossible to say, given Randle’s injury and having only watched a season of the rest of the rookies.
Next: Conclusion