Lakers Fit
Here’s where things get tricky for Hield. For starters, if the Lakers first-round pick falls in the top-three, taking Hield there right now would be a major reach for LA as even the most promising of evaluations of Hield don’t have him going that high. That’s not to say that can’t change with plenty of college hoops left to be played, but for now it’s certainly worth noting.
Moreover, the Lakers backcourt is currently too crowded as it is with the likes of Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Lou Williams all occupying roles in the rotation. However, if the Lakers were to unload Lou in a trade and potentially not be willing to pay the price that Clarkson demands this summer in restricted free agency, minutes could certainly open up for Hield in that regard.
While it’s not ideal to not have the size opposite of Russell in the backcourt—a problem the undersized Hield would mean for the Lakers—the prospect of Hield and Russell moving the ball and working from the perimeter is certainly enticing in terms of a guard duo for the future of the organization.
Next: A Prospective Look at the Lakers 2016-17 Roster
Hield is a strange case in terms of his current placement on both big boards and in terms of the fit on the current Lakers roster. However, if the cards fall right both for the rest of Hield’s senior season at Oklahoma and with the moves that the Lakers make going into the 2016 offseason, the Lakers could certainly do much worse than adding a polished player who still has some upside like Hield.