Should the Lakers trade up in the draft for Cole Anthony?

Who could the Lakers pick in the lottery?

In this hypothetical situation, the Los Angeles Lakers are now at the 12 overall pick.

Depending on which scout you ask, most would agree that blue-chip talent ends at pick 4.
LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman, Obi Toppin, and Anthony Edwards are the consensus top 4 picks in most people’s draft boards.

While the Lakers could take players like combo guard RJ Hampton, Duke’s Vernon Carey Jr or Minnesota’s Daniel Oturu, who are all solid talents available at the end of the lottery, it might be in the best interest of the Lakers to swing for the fences and draft a prospect who has fallen from grace over the last year.

Cole Anthony.

At the start of 2019, one of the only names being uttered as the number 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft was Cole Anthony who had just committed to North Carolina.

At the end of Anthony’s freshman season, he couldn’t have imagined that his name would be mentioned towards the end of the lottery.

Anthony while he played well in the college didn’t set the college world alight like many thought he would.

Some of the blame can be placed on the lackluster supporting cast in which Anthony had during his Freshman season but at the end of the day, when you are the best player on your team, you should be shinning and Anthony did not shine. Blame could be put on his torn meniscus also which sidelined him for 2 months.

So why should the Los Angeles Lakers target Point Guard Cole Anthony at the 12th overall pick?