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Los Angeles Lakers among the five winners of 2017 NBA Draft

By Kenneth Teape

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty first round selections in the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty first round selections in the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Los Angeles Lakers among the five winners of 2017 NBA Draft
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Lonzo Ball (UCLA) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number two overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Los Angeles Lakers

As mentioned earlier, the Lakers were very active during the 2017 NBA Draft. They traded D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Brooklyn Nets for Brook Lopez and the 27th pick days before the draft. During draft day, they traded the 28th pick to the Utah Jazz for the 30th and 42nd pick.

With four total selections, the Lakers added some good talent to their roster. They have a new face of the franchise in Lonzo Ball, who was selected second overall. With the 27th pick, the Lakers picked Utah power forward, Kyle Kuzma. Villanova do-it-all shooting guard Josh Hart was picked 30th, and the 42n pick was used on Indiana center, Thomas Bryant.

The Lakers did an excellent job filling needs on the roster through the draft. Hart could be the starting shooting guard by the time the season rolls around. Kuzma is a rebounding machine with some scoring ability and the potential to become a stretch-four. Bryant looks the part of a stretch-five and has a wingspan that NBA teams would drool over at 7-feet-6 inches.

While some fans were unhappy with Russell being traded, it has cleared cap space for the Lakers and gives the reigns clearly to Ball. This was a great draft for the Lakers, who added to their young roster and have the pieces to still swing a bigger deal if they want.

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