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Los Angeles Lakers: Redrafting the 2015 through 2018 NBA Draft

By Daniel Preciado

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 26: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a three pointer from Jordan Clarkson #6 during a 120-114 season opening win over the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on October 26, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 26: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a three pointer from Jordan Clarkson #6 during a 120-114 season opening win over the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on October 26, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Redrafting the 2015 NBA Draft:

Selections: PG D’Angelo Russell (2), C/PF Larry Nance Jr. (27), SF/SG Anthony Brown (34)

The Los Angeles Lakers drafted a star point guard with the second overall pick (good), a legitimate NBA big man who is improving on both ends of the floor with experience (good), and one wing player who is out of the NBA.

In hindsight, the selection of D’Angelo Russell was the correct one. The only players in the lottery that could even be considered above DLo besides Karl-Anthony Towns are Kristaps Porzingis (#4) and Devin Booker (#13).

Even then, it’s a tough call to make. Even if Russell winds up having the third or fourth most productive career in the NBA, it doesn’t matter to the Lakers. When they shipped him off to Brooklyn for Brook Lopez and salary cap room, they drew the line in the sand.

Larry Nance Jr. also had some solid seasons for the Lakers before he was shipped off to the Cleveland Cavaliers for additional cap space.

Anthony Brown played very little for the Lakers and bounced around for the league before playing his final game in the 2017-2018 season.

If the Lakers could do it all over again, here’s how they could have done it:

New Selections: PG D’Angelo Russell (2), C/PF Montrezl Harrell (27), Josh Richardson (34)

Russell stays. The Lakers could have gotten the Clippers’ big man instead of Nance. The Lakers also could have drafted a more productive wing player in Richardson, who is now playing a prolific role for the playoff-bound Philadelphia 76ers.

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