The Los Angeles Lakers spent the entire 2023-24 NBA season hearing how they missed the mark with the No. 17 overall selection in the 2023 NBA Draft. Jalen Hood-Schifino struggled to secure playing time, while No. 18 pick Jaime Jaquez Jr. secured All-Rookie First Team honors.
Three years later, it's as though the hands of fate were working directly against the Lakers, as three players drafted with picks that directly preceded or followed Los Angeles' selection are thriving elsewhere.
The Utah Jazz took point guard Keyonte George at No. 16 overall—just one pick prior to the Lakers' selection of Hood-Schifino at No. 17. The Miami Heat then drafted Jaquez at No. 18, followed by the Golden State Warriors' choice of Brandin Podziemski at No. 19.
As fate would have it, all three of George, Jaquez, and Podziemski have emerged as high-level players, while Hood-Schifino was traded by the Lakers after just 23 games in the purple and gold.
The 2025-26 season has been particularly cruel in revealing just how much talent the Lakers were one or two picks away from adding. George was obviously off the board before it was Los Angeles' turn to pick, but even he represents what could've been.
The Lakers can only live in the past for so long before it becomes dangerous, but the 2023 NBA Draft was truly the epitome of how badly the front office has missed the mark.
Lakers' 2023 NBA Draft near misses: George, Jaquez, Podziemski
George is in the midst of a stellar breakout season during which he's emerged as one of the most productive players in the NBA. He's averaging 24.3 points, 6.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.6 three-point field goals made per game on .458/.372/.902 shooting.
The Lakers may not need a guard anymore, but considering they spent years trading away first-round draft picks to try to find the right point guard, not landing George is at least somewhat painful.
Jaquez, meanwhile, has emerged as a Sixth Man of the Year candidate in 2025-26. He's averaging 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 0.8 steals on .533/.268/.748 shooting. He ranks in the 81st percentile in ball screen navigation and the 71st percentile in perimeter isolation defense, per Basketball Index.
Though Jaquez's lackluster three-point shooting would've made his fit questionable in Los Angeles, his offensive versatility and defensive proficiency would've checked several key boxes.
Podziemski, meanwhile, has become one of the most important players on the rival Warriors. He started 11 of his 12 postseason appearances when the team reached the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs and continues to improve as a southpaw scorer and playmaker.
Thus far in 2025-26, Podziemski is averaging 12.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.9 three-point field goals made on .455/.405/.747 shooting.
The saving grace for the Lakers is that the players they missed out on would be regarded as questionable fits in 2025-26. The harsh reality, however, is that they could've been of immeasurable aid to Anthony Davis and LeBron James in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
The Lakers are doing well behind Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and James in 2025-26, but one can't help but wonder how much stronger the roster could've been had they selected one of the near misses.