The Los Angeles Lakers would be extremely lucky to land a future all-star in the 2020 NBA Draft.
If the season were to end today, which at this point seems possible, the Los Angeles Lakers would have the 29th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Even if the year resumes, chances are that the Lakers are going to be picking in the bottom five in the first round, even if they come back and are absolutely ice cold.
The Lakers are not expecting an all-star out of the 2020 NBA Draft and instead should be looking for someone who complements the current roster and can fit a specific need right away. That is something that is obtainable.
However, there are diamonds in the rough and if they are lucky, maybe the Lakers can be one of the few teams that strikes gold at the end of the first round. Here are the three examples to look towards as all-star players to be selected in picks 26-30 since 2010.
3. Pascal Siakam
- Year selected: 2016
- All-star appearances: One
Pascal Siakam is the latest pick on this list and is proof that even if you land an all-star with a late pick that it is likely going to take time for that all-star to blossom into their full potential. Siakam was not an all-star until this season as he has been a huge reason why the Toronto Raptors continue to compete despite Kawhi Leonard‘s departure.
We really started to see signs of Siakam being an all-star-caliber player at the end of the last season and in the playoffs as well. If Siakam did not play like the true second star that he was in the playoffs, then chances are the Golden State Warriors, even with their injuries, would be defending NBA Champions.
Siakam was the 27th overall pick by the Raptors and his first two seasons looked like that of a 27th overall pick, as he averaged a combined six points and four rebounds in 18.7 minutes per game.
However, his scoring output jumped all the way to 16.9 points per game in 2018 and got even better this season as the number one guy, averaging 23.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
This is not a fluke season for Siakam. He has all the skills to fit in as an all-star in the modern-day NBA and at only 25 years old, we could bet that he is going to have several more all-star appearances in his career.