Los Angeles Lakers: 3 reasons why LA should trade up in the NBA Draft
3. The Los Angeles Lakers do not have any immediate roster needs
The Los Angeles Lakers just hoisted up the Larry O’Brien trophy. Do they have any immediate roster needs? Nope. Do they have a pressing need to trade for a star? No, they have two top-flight stars on the roster already.
The team simply has the time and patience to help develop a young player and whoever that would wind up being, they would be placed in just about the best situation possible. They wouldn’t have to be thrust into immediate minutes, but their development likely would not be stunted.
Talen Horton-Tucker is one of the youngest players in the entire league and was his growth stunted? Nope. He actually played meaningful minutes at times for the Lakers across their playoff run.
While trading for a guy with playoff experience and prior demonstration of being a star — think Victor Oladipo or Bradley Beal — might be enticing, it’s most certainly not a need. Teams that are in the thick of contention never really have true roster needs that can’t be filled by the stereotypical ring chaser and the Lakers are no exception.
Next. 5 lottery-level prospects that could fall to 28. dark
Add a young player to the core — it can’t hurt. If you have to deal Kyle Kuzma to make it happen, so be it. This winter will be a wild one for the NBA and could be a wild one for the Lakers in particular. It could all start this November with the NBA Draft.