Los Angeles Lakers: Dennis Smith wants to learn from Magic Johnson

The Los Angeles Lakers have missed the postseason in four consecutive years, but they have a lot going for them. The roster is loaded with young, talented players, courtesy of selecting high in the draft; sometimes losing does pay off. With a moldable roster, the Lakers also have all-time great, Magic Johnson, back in the fold.

Johnson heads a revamped Lakers front office. Jeanie Buss decided a change was necessary right before the NBA Trade Deadline in February. General manager Mitch Kupchak and vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss, her older brother, were fired. Johnson was brought in as president of basketball operations, and Rob Pelinka was later hired as general manager.

With the new front office and lively Luke Walton on the sideline, the Lakers are set up with a good brain trust for the young players to learn from. They will be adding two more youngsters to the roster next week during the 2017 NBA Draft.

The Lakers own the second and 28th overall picks in the 2017 NBA Draft. There are a few needs currently on the roster, so the Lakers have a multitude of directions they could go in with the picks.

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They could hold onto the picks and add two youngsters to the roster. Or, do they trade them looking to add a veteran? Maybe they will trade back to try and accumulate more picks in this year’s draft or in the future.

If they take the third route, and trade back, one prospect they could have their eye is North Carolina State point guard, Dennis Smith. The Lakers won’t pick Smith second overall, but if they trade down he would squarely be on their radar.

Smith worked out for the Lakers last weekend. He was the most talented player in the group, as Tyler Lydon of Syracuse was the only other player projected to get drafted. Smith excelled with the group and talked about how much he enjoyed working against the other draft prospects.

"“You have guys coming out and competing; they want the same thing you want,” Smith Jr. said after his workout on Sunday at the Lakers’ practice facility. “That’s to be against the top get to compete against them. So you get to see who’s really a dog.”"

Smith talked to reporters after the workout and also discussed how he did not worry about where he would be selected. Smith was not concerned with where other top point guards Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, or De’Aaron Fox would be selected.

While Smith is unlikely to be selected by the Lakers unless a trade is consummated, he did mention working with Johnson. Johnson was at the workout on Sunday, and Smith said he would really like getting to work with and learn from Johnson should he land with the Lakers.

"“I think I can learn a ton from him,” Smith said. “He had one of the greatest minds to ever play, if not the greatest. It’s a lot I can learn from him. I would love to have the opportunity.”"

Smith isn’t the first prospect to talk about wanting to learn from Johnson. Ball also spoke about hoping to learn from Johnson in late April.

Next: Full First Round 2017 NBA Mock Draft

Johnson is one of the greatest point guards to ever play basketball. He would provide whoever the Lakers selected with invaluable advice. He is one of the perks of joining the Lakers. Not every team has a Hall of Famer working with them.

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