Los Angeles Lakers alternate timeline: Team of Lakers’ draft picks
The Los Angeles Lakers have drafted exceptionally well in recent years. Most of the players they drafted have ended up on different teams. What if the Lakers had kept every player they drafted since 2014?
The Los Angeles Lakers’ scouting department has been a silver lining of an otherwise unstable organization in recent years. They’ve drafted well in the first round, as well as uncovering a few gems later in the draft.
The front office has used drafted players and draft picks to achieve several objectives. D’Angelo Russell was traded to the Brooklyn Nets as a way to move the $64 million dollar contract given to Timofey Mozgov. Ivica Zubac was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in an attempt to add a 3-point shooting to the roster.
Most notably, the Lakers were able to acquire their new superstar, Anthony Davis, by trading three young promising players to the New Orleans Pelicans, along with future draft picks. All three of the players traded were drafted by the Lakers.
After years of losing and lottery balls, the Lakers are now finally in a position to succeed. Along with Davis, they also have LeBron James, signed as a free agent in the summer of 2018. They have several veteran role players, 3-point snipers, and rim protection. The team is built specifically around Davis and James.
Of the several players, the Lakers drafted from 2014 through 2018, one remains on the roster; Kyle Kuzma. While the team is extremely promising right now, and fans don’t have much to complain about, it’s interesting to wonder how good of a team they could have if they had kept all the players they drafted.
We will discuss players actually drafted by the Lakers as well as players they acquired on draft day via trade. In other words, “homegrown” players.
Think about all the talent that has come and gone from the team since 2014. Many of the guys they traded or waived have gone on to have solid starts to their respective careers. If we were to make a starting lineup out of all the Lakers’ recent draft picks, it would look something like this:
Starting Lineup
PG Lonzo Ball SG D’Angelo Russell SF Brandon Ingram PF Julius Randle C Ivica Zubac
As you can see, they could have a very talented lineup if they had held onto all the guys they drafted. We know what Lonzo Ball brings to the table with his passing skills and solid defense. Brandon Ingram is a long defender, good scorer, and passer. Ivica Zubac was starting to become a solid NBA player when he was traded and is now an important part of the Clippers’ rotation.
The other two haven’t been Lakers for a while now, and have both gone on to show they belong in the NBA.
Randle, the No. 7 pick in the 2014 NBA draft, was a solid contributor to the New Orleans Pelicans last season, and was picked up by the New York Knicks this summer. Russell had his first All-Star appearance as a member of the Brooklyn Nets last season, and was recently acquired by the Golden State Warriors.
Now let’s examine who the backups could be on this theoretical squad.
PG Jordan Clarkson SG Josh Hart SF Kyle Kuzma PF Larry Nance, Jr. C Thomas Bryant
The reserves are also pretty impressive. Clarkson, a second-round pick in 2014, played a lot of point guard in his rookie season with the Lakers. Since his third year in 2016-17, he has been among the league’s leading bench scorers (per basketball-reference). Hart, acquired via trade on draft day in 2017, plays hard, and when healthy, put up solid numbers. Kuzma is still on the Lakers for his versatility and scoring.
Nance Jr., a late first-round pick in 2015, is capable of a double-double on any given night. He throws down thunderous dunks from time to time that can really hype up a crowd, like the 2016 dunk of the year that put Brook Lopez on a poster. (I was at that game!)
Thomas Bryant was acquired in the same trade that netted the Lakers Josh Hart. He was taken with the 42nd overall pick. The Lakers played the young Bryant in only 15 games, as he saw most of his run in the G League.
After his rookie season, he was waived before getting picked up by the Washington Wizards. He had a breakout season, starting in 53 games. In a game in December 2018, he shot 14-for-14, tying for the fourth-most field goals made without a miss in NBA history, behind only Wilt Chamberlain, according to Wikipedia.
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The rest of this theoretical roster would be made up of other players the Lakers drafted (or acquired on draft day) between 2014-2018. Guys like Svi Mykhailiuk, Isaac Bonga, Mo Wagner, and Anthony Brown could round out the rotation.
Although the current Lakers are set up to win now, many fans wonder a lot about these former Lakers.
Could Zubac have filled the hole that required the team to sign Dwight Howard? Would D’Angelo Russell have worked out better than Lonzo Ball after all? Could Brandon Ingram’s playmaking ability help take some of the burdens off of LeBron this season? Could Randle, Clarkson, and Thomas Bryant have found more success with the Purple & Gold?
The Lakers could’ve held onto any or all of these players. They could have a dynasty in the making as these young guys continued to grow together. It’s fun to wonder how this group of Lakers draft picks would perform together after gaining more experience.
It’s more fun to wonder how badly LeBron and Davis will massacre the rest of the league. It all worked out, very well, in the end.
Next. 40 Greatest Lakers Players In Franchise History. dark
What do you guys think? Would this theoretical team ever be a contender? Do you wish any of these players were still on the team? Let us know in the comments below!