What the Lakers Should Do With Picks 27 & 34
By Scott Asai
The Lakers will draft either Jahlil Okafor or Karl Anthony-Towns depending on who the Minnesota Timberwolves select, but what should they do with the #27 & #34 picks?
Package both picks to move up to #18 (Houston Rockets via New Orleans Pelicans) in the 1st round.
Here’s why: the Houston Rockets already made a favorable trade with us last season when we took Jeremy Lin and their first round pick (#27 in the 2015 NBA Draft) off their hands for a salary dump. The Rockets are reportedly interested in re-acquiring Lin as a free agent (be our guest) which would address their point guard needs, so they will be interested in collecting more draft picks to stockpile their analytics chamber. The Rockets are looking for players to plug into their system, so the more choices the better.
-== How The Top 5 NBA Prospects Fit With The Lakers ==-
With the 18th pick in the draft, the Lakers can select Tyus Jones from Duke University. Not only could they potentially pair him with his buddy, Jahlil Okafor, but Jones could back up Jordan Clarkson at the point guard position and eventually blossom into the Lakers starting point guard. At 6’1″ 195 lbs critics will say Jones is undersized, but he was Duke’s most clutch performer all season long including in the NCAA Title Game. Size matters, but heart is more important. Jones isn’t afraid to take the big shots and while many crumble in the bright lights of L.A. (just ask Dwight Howard), playing high school ball in New York and on center stage at Duke, it’s prepared him for stardom. Jones can shoot the 3, penetrate the paint and find open teammates with his precision passing. There may be bigger point guard options in the draft, but I doubt they are better than what we already have: Jordan Clarkson. The draft is about taking the best talent available at your position, but it’s also filling a need based on fit. It’s been a while since the Lakers have had a pass first guard that can penetrate and hit the open 3. What Jones may lack in size he makes up in toughness, fundamentals and playing with a winning mentality.
After filling the hole in the middle with a big man at #2, the Lakers’ glaring weakness is at the small forward position. Justise Winslow, Stanley Johnson and Kelly Oubre will be taken by #18 so grabbing a small forward will be priority #1 in free agency. Turning our attention to the guard spot, Tyus Jones will be a welcome addition to a strong young core that can lead the Lakers back to the promise land where they rightly belong.