Why The Lakers Needn’t Worry About Losing Their 2016 Draft Pick

The Lakers look to be destined once again for a top three draft pick, but here’s why losing it isn’t the biggest deal

Entering this season, many expected the Lakers to be bad, but not this bad. After all, the team underwent major improvements over the summer, signing the likes of Lou Williams and defensive specialist, Roy Hibbert, as well drafting D’Angelo Russell and expecting to see the triumphant returns of Julius Randle and Kobe Bryant.

Yet, here we are again. With less than 20 games left to play in the season, the Lakers find themselves in the tank sweepstakes, hoping to land a top 3 pick so that this season does not go to waste. Recently, general manager Mitch Kupchak even made a trip to Israel in order to scout the game of international phenom, Dragan Bender, a player who may very well make his way to Los Angeles if the team is able to keep its lottery pick.

But the preference of players at the top of the draft isn’t the only pressing dilemma. First, the Lakers must hope that they don’t lose their pick. However promising as the future may appear, with the addition of yet another exciting player to the team’s burgeoning young core, the odds of that happening aren’t so reassuring.

Even if the Lakers finish the season with the second worst record in the league (which they are one pace of doing), there is only a 55.7 percent chance that the teams retains its top three selection. While by no means are the Lakers a long shot to keep the pick, the chances of successfully doing so are tantamount to expecting to land “heads” on a slightly weighted coin flip.

More from Lake Show Life

This precarious scenario has caused fans of the team to hope that it loses enough games while managing to develop the team’s current youth, two surprisingly not mutually exclusive situations.

But is it worth it?

Obviously, the more talent a team has, the better. This is to say, it would be great if the Lakers were to somehow keep their lottery pick and select a top-tier prospect like the aforementioned Bender, Brandon Ingram, or Ben Simmons. It is never bad to have too may weapons.

But what many people forget, and understandably so, is that the team’s current young core already projects well going forward. Unfortunately, the Lakers’ poor coaching, headed by Byron Scott, has all but stunted D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle from showcasing their true potential.

While the collection of these three players may not make for the most appealing of recruiting pitches for prospective free agents as of now, only time (and the relieving of Scott from his duties as head coach) will tell as to how this young core will pan out. If games like this one against the Orlando Magic are any indication, however, the Lakers are in good hands.

Russell (27), Clarkson (24) & Randle (23) combine for 74 as the @Lakers top the @OrlandoMagic 107-98. #ORLatLAL pic.twitter.com/xyfz1ZGY94
— NBA (@NBA) March 9, 2016

Again, this is not to say that the Lakers wouldn’t be better with the addition of a new lottery prospect. However, it is silly to suggest that such a pick is “necessary” when most people did not even anticipate the team being in this position coming into the season.

Indeed, though it appears foolish now to think that some fans pegged the team as a possible eighth seed in the playoffs several months ago, the fact that such thoughts occurred in the first place speaks to the belief in the franchise’s already existing young core. While neither Russell, Clarkson, or Randle have had seasons worthy of being deemed outstanding, they have all flashed glimpses of potential that Kupchak and owner Jim Buss hope will eventually be actualized.

Russell has been on a tear as of late, averaging 20.9 points per game in the month of March, with his most memorable game being a 39 point outburst against the Brooklyn Nets. Randle has been a model of consistency, seemingly gobbling up double-doubles on a nightly basis. Last but certainly not least, Clarkson has shown remarkable improvement as a catch-and-shoot jump shooter.

Similarly, the repercussions of losing the pick may be better than what one may initially think. Drafting Ben Simmons may require the trading of Julius Randle, who plays the same position as the former.

While Simmons unquestionably has more upside, would the front office be willing to deal away one of the team’s best young players just for the sake of adding a similarly oriented player? That is a conundrum that the team will be forced to confront if it is in a position to draft a player of Simmons’ caliber.

Again, losing this year’s pick will allow the Lakers to retain next season’s, in a draft class that is considered to be much deeper than the current draft class. Even if the Lakers aren’t back in the lottery this time next season, their recent history suggests that they will be able to make the right selection regardless of draft status.

After all, Clarkson was bought from the Wizards in the second round, and do-it-all rookie Larry Nance Jr. was selected in the late first round. Notwithstanding the team’s abysmal record, one criticism that cannot be made regarding the Lakers’ front office pertains to their ability to draft.

In fact, the team’s draft picks look to be promising contributors to the franchise’s future success. Contrast this with the Boston Celtics and their abysmal drafting history, and you’ll see why the Lakers ‘ young guys are creating so much buzz.