Today is the day of the 2021 NBA Draft and as it currently stands, the Los Angeles Lakers still have their first-round pick in the draft. Last year, the Lakers traded the 28th overall pick three days before the draft to get Dennis Schroder.
There are actually some Lakers draft storylines to follow and while there are countless different directions the Lakers can take, we can predict which direction the team takes with the current status of things.
Here are three bold predictions for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2021 NBA Draft:
1. The Los Angeles Lakers move down in the first round via a trade
Reports emerged on Wednesday around a potential package with the Utah Jazz. According to the reports, a trade of Kyle Kuzma and the 22nd overall pick for Joe Ingles and the 30th overall pick is a possibility.
Even if it is not that exact trade, it makes perfect sense for the Lakers to move back in the first round if they can get better assets for it. The Lakers have an exceptional eye for talent late in the draft and have been even better in developing that talent.
In reality, the difference between the 22nd pick and 30th pick might not even be that large, especially with what the Lakers might be targeting out of their first-round pick.
So what might the Lakers be targeting with their first-round pick? Let’s get into that with our second bold prediction.