Los Angeles Lakers: Re-evaluating the four lottery picks during 2014-2017

By Jason Reed | Apr 8, 2020

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 01: Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives against LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at the Smoothie King Center on March 01, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

1 of 5

(Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The Los Angeles Lakers had a selection in the lottery for four years in a row during the team’s worth stretch in franchise history, three of which were second overall picks. To put into perspective how rare this is for the Lakers, the 2014 NBA Draft was the first time since the team took James Worthy first overall in 1982 that they had a pick in single-digits.

Laker fans were hoping that the seventh-overall pick could help an aging Kobe Bryant surprise a lot of people. While nobody expected anything huge out of the team, they certainly did not expect the stretch that would be following 2014.

The team selected Julius Randle, he got hurt in the first game of his rookie season and missed the entire season and Kobe Bryant only played 35 games. This started the downhill trend for the Lakers.

In hindsight, with none of the four lottery picks still on the Los Angeles Lakers, it might seem like the team failed in these drafts. However, when we begin to re-evaluate who the Lakers selected, one thing becomes clear.

The Los Angeles Lakers made the best choice with all four of the lottery picks.

In the following slides we will break down why a particular selection was the best one for the team to make and why they should get more credit for drafting great. We will start in 2014.

Home/Lakers Draft