1. The Houston Rockets and the Washington Wizards
One team’s trash is another team’s treasure. In fact, one team’s trash is the reason the Lakers have a legitimate chance of making the playoffs this season.
In 2014, the Lakers ended up with the seventh overall pick in the NBA Draft after a 27-win season under former head coach Mike D’Antoni. With the seventh pick, the Lakers drafted energetic big man out of Kentucky, Julius Randle.
Because of previous trades, the seventh pick was the only pick the Lakers had that night. That was until the front office worked the phones and purchased the Washington Wizards’ second-round pick for $1.8 million. Pointless deal, right? Wrong.
With the 46th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, the Lakers selected Missouri point guard Jordan Taylor Clarkson. The rest is history.
Fast forward a year later, and the Lakers were still bad. Like, franchise-worst season (at the time) bad. However, with the draft and free agency coming up, the front office had a few things to take care of.
In 2015, the Lakers had three picks; their own first-rounder, the Houston Rockets’ (via LA Clippers) No. 27 pick and their own second-rounder.
Los Angeles acquired Houston’s pick and Jeremy Lin the summer before in a salary dump. While Jeremey Lin didn’t quite pan out in tinsel town, the Lakers made sure to make their late first-rounder in the 2015 NBA Draft well worth it.
With the 27th pick, the Lakers drafted Larry Nance Jr. out of Wyoming. Initially, fans weren’t crazy about this choice with players like March Madness sensation R.J. Hunter and UCLA standout Kevon Looney still on the board.
Turns out, the Lakers’ front office knew exactly what they were doing. Exhibit A:
OH. MY. 😱 https://t.co/gnkDU40Rzl
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 5, 2016
Thank you, Rockets and Wizards. We owe you big time.