Lakers Draft: Biggest Draft Steals of All Time

Dennis Johnson: 29th Overall Pick 1976

The Seattle Supersonics drafted DJ out of Pepperdine University in the second round, and ended up with one of the most underrated players in NBA history.  Johnson was one of the main reasons for the dominance of the Boston Celtics in the 1980s, despite most people giving Larry Bird and Kevin McHale most of the credit.  Johnson was a defensive specialist, often picking up guys at half-court, making the opposing point guard’s life hell.

-== Best Lakers Draft Pick & Free Agent Pairings ==-

Just a year before the 1980’s began, a decade when Bird, Magic, and Kareem seemed to win every Finals MVP award, Johnson won a Finals MVP of his own with the Sonics in 1979.  Being 6’4″ and athletically gifted would make one wonder how a player like Johnson fell into the second round.  Well, he had some character issues that teams worried about, which seems to be a case for a few players in every draft.  Robert Upshaw, a prime candidate for the Lakers 27th pick was dismissed from the University of Washington basketball team in January, giving some teams concerns about the man he his.  A player like Upshaw has plenty of talent, but the Lakers may have to just take a risk, and hope like Johnson, Upshaw leaves his past behind him and matures as an NBA player.

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