4 prospects the Los Angeles Lakers should evaluate in March Madness
Los Angeles Lakers GM Rob Pelinka can find a hidden gem in March Madness
The 2019 NBA Draft was when Rob Pelinka firmly cemented his legacy as a great executive for the Los Angeles Lakers. Not when he traded for Anthony Davis. That was happening no matter who the GM was for the Lakers. Not when Pelinka was able to hold on to Kyle Kuzma and Alex Caruso in the AD trade. New Orleans wanted Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram instead, neither of which thrived playing alongside LeBron James.
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Trading for Anthony Davis without giving up Kuzma and Caruso was not even Rob Pelinka’s best trade in the 2019 draft. It was trading for Iowa State guard Talen Horton-Tucker, drafted #46 overall by the Orlando Magic, for a 2020 second-round pick plus cash considerations.
Talen Horton-Tucker: the man, the myth, the 46th overall pick. So who can be the next THT? Or the next Caruso, who was not drafted coming out of Texas A&M?
The Lakers would have to trade back into the draft as they do not have any picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, which happens often in the latter part of the second round. I would add that these players could very well be picked up as undrafted free agents.