Lakers: Trading the Draft Pick Would Be a Huge Mistake
The Lakers may have locked up the second overall pick in the 2016 Draft, but that doesn’t mean that they’re going to keep it
The Los Angeles Lakers won a huge victory on Tuesday, as the lottery order remained unchanged and the team secured the number two overall pick for the second consecutive year.
The team got very lucky, as falling past two would have resulted in perhaps their most valuable asset being gifted to the Philadelphia 76ers. However, there has already been talk of the Lakers squandering their good fortune by trading the pick.
On the surface, trading the pick may seem like a good idea. Players like Jimmy Butler, Paul George, and DeMarcus Cousins have been discussed as possible targets for the team, and for fans starving for a competitive basketball team, getting a player of that caliber is tantalizing. To secure a legitimate star who is still in the early stages of his prime is the best possible scenario for a rebuilding team like the Lakers.
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However, there are a series of other factors that must be considered when weighing whether a trade would be a sound decision.
First, it is highly unlikely that a player like Paul George or Jimmy Butler will ultimately be moved. There is little motivation for their teams to part with them, as they are both extremely talented, fairly young, and cause little trouble off the court.
DeMarcus Cousins, on the other hand, is probably a player the Lakers would have a better chance of actually landing. That said, the Lakers must question whether he is truly the type of player they want to bring on board at this stage. A player who is constantly surrounded by controversy and conflict, placing him on a young team with a rookie head coach could be a recipe for disaster.
Furthermore, it is unrealistic to think that any of these three players could be obtained for the number two pick alone. Any potential deal would most likely include at least one member of the Lakers young core, whether it be Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, or D’Angelo Russell.
The Lakers should under no circumstances try to skip steps in their rebuild
Trading for a star will also significantly impact the Lakers’ salary cap situation. Whereas the Lakers could easily add two max players along with their first round pick, that prospect becomes more difficult if a trade occurs.
The Lakers should consider that adding a player like Brandon Ingram, along with free agents such as Hassan Whiteside and Harrison Barnes, is most likely the best case scenario for this off-season. The Lakers have made the mistake of focusing on unrealistic options for two consecutive off-seasons, and must buck that trend this year.
The Lakers should under no circumstances try to cut corners in their rebuild, as doing so carries the possibility of complete and utter disaster.
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Instead, they should take this golden opportunity to add to their young core, as either of the players available has the potential to be the center-piece of a team.