3 reasons why the Lakers should “buy” a second-round pick in 2022
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers‘ season ended much sooner than anyone expected before the year and instead of covering playoff basketball, we here at Lake Show Life are already in full offseason mode as the Lakers have a lot to figure out this summer.
One aspect of the team-building phase that the Lakers currently do not have any stake in is the 2022 NBA Draft. Los Angeles does not have a single pick in the draft and there is a pretty decent chance of the Lakers giving the New Orleans Pelicans a top-four pick in the lottery.
While the Lakers currently do not have a selection, they could “buy” a second-round pick in this year’s draft class. Every year we see teams that do not have an open roster spot or no prospect they like sell off these picks for future assets or cash considerations.
The Lakers did this in 2019 with Talen Horton-Tucker, trading a 2020 second-round pick and cash to get the 46th overall pick to take him. There are multiple reasons for the Lakers to do this once again.
Why the Los Angeles Lakers should “buy” a second-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft:
1. The Los Angeles Lakers have two second-round picks in the 2023 NBA Draft
As it currently stands, the Los Angeles Lakers have both their own second-round pick as well as the Chicago Bulls’ second-round pick (from the Russell Westbrook trade) in the 2023 NBA Draft. Instead of simply sitting on those picks or trading one of them for a bad player, the Lakers would be better off using one of them with cash to get into the 2022 NBA Draft.
What is the purpose of the Lakers having two second-round picks in next year’s draft? There are so many unknowns between now and then that the team would be better off turning one of them into a pick this year.
Los Angeles has the means to make this happen and they have the extra reasoning as well.