The Los Angeles Lakers have the 28th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
The Los Angeles Lakers traded away a lot of draft capital to obtain Anthony Davis last offseason, their 2020 first-round pick was not part of that deal. Thus, the Lakers have the 28th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft after finishing with the third-best record in the league.
There are a lot of moving parts this offseason and we do not know who the Lakers may bring back in free agency or who the team might be pursuing from other teams, also via free agency or via trade.
Using some estimating based on what we think is going to happen this offseason, we came up with the positions of need power ranking for the Lakers in the 2020 NBA Draft. From the smallest need to the largest need, here is that power ranking.
5. Small forward
The NBA is positionless nowadays and nothing is more evident of that than the fact that LeBron James is essentially the team’s point guard but for the sake of the lineup was starting at the small forward position.
Regardless of LeBron’s actual role on the team, the small forward position is the smallest need as the Lakers do not really need a wing out of the draft.
There are going to be options in free agency to fit that need if it arises, such as Jae Crowder, as well as players on the roster that fit into that small forward wing role. With LeBron playing so much, though, there is more emphasis on those wings playing in the backcourt, not at forward.
At the end of the day, the Lakers are not going to find a prospect in the draft that can legitimately contribute right away while playing the three for the team. It is not just the smallest need, it is no need for the Lakers.