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Lakers get last laugh over Pelicans, earn draft pick back in 2023

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 04: Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans' shot is blocked by Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on February 04, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 04: Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans' shot is blocked by Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on February 04, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up the 2022-23 season on Sunday and clinched their place as the seventh seed in the Western Conference. As a result, the purple and gold will play in the NBA Play-In Tournament and take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.

This was a rollercoaster season for the purple and gold. The team started with a 2-10 record and rallied to finish with a 43-39 record. Things really started to pick up for the team after the trade deadline as Rob Pelinka was able to not only trade Russell Westbrook but also create a far better roster.

Things were bleak for the purple and gold early on and there were plenty of NBA fans that were dunking on the team. At one point, it looked like the Lakers would actually give the New Orleans Pelicans a chance at Victor Wembanyama as they held the right to swap first-round picks in the 2023 NBA Draft from the Anthony Davis trade.

Now that the regular season is over, Lakers fans can officially get the last laugh.

Lakers get 2023 first-round draft pick back from the Pelicans.

New Orleans still got a great return for a player that did not want to be there and was forcing his way to Los Angeles but the trade return is not as absurd as pundits made it out to be when the deal was first made. Neither pick swap was conveyed for the Pelicans, meaning that the Lakers did their job.

New Orleans still made the play-in as the ninth seed in the West and is guaranteed to get a lottery pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. The Pelicans can still get lucky as they have a 2.4% chance of getting a top-four pick in the draft. Meanwhile, Los Angeles is locked in with the 17th pick.

Los Angeles can use that pick to try and develop a player or can trade it in return for more established NBA talent. Regardless, New Orleans is likely going to end up with a pick that is only three spots better than the Lakers for the price of trading a generational player.

That is a massive win for the purple and gold while all the pundits that said the team overpaid for Anthony Davis now look silly.

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