The 2023 NBA Draft appeared to mark a turning point in the way Rob Pelinka approaches team-building. The Los Angeles Lakers retained the rights to their selections and seemed to be learning from the mistakes that inevitably resulted in the absence of reliable and affordable depth.
Unfortunately, the event is shaping up to be one of the most inconsequential in recent Lakers history—and the rest of the NBA is confirming that fear.
Los Angeles selected Jalen Hood-Schifino at No. 17 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, it never managed to find him a consistent place in the rotation and inevitably encountered the harsh reality that his progression was limited under those circumstances.
According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, at least three teams have expressed interest in trading for Hood-Schifino (h/t Silver Screen and Roll).
"Atlanta had interest in him in that talk with Dejounte last year. Utah, I believe, has shown interest in him, to my knowledge, in those talks about Walker Kessler. Brooklyn, I've been told, is a team that has interest in him. So, just keep an eye on Jalen Hood-Schifino as a potential outgoing salary expiring deal."
Unfortunately, this is yet another example of the NBA confirming that the Lakers have undervalued Hood-Schifino at every turn.
At least three teams expressed interest in Lakers' Jalen Hood-Schifino
Hood-Schifino has obvious potential as a 21-year-old wing with a versatile skill set. Standing at 6'5" and 215 pounds with a 6'10.25" wingspan, his physical attributes have created the inevitable belief around the Association that there's defensive upside to explore.
As for his offense, Hood-Schifino has received limited opportunities in the NBA, but proved in the G League that he has a developable skill set.
Hood-Schifino appeared in just 21 games in the NBA as a rookie, averaging a mere 5.2 minutes per game. During his 15 games in the G League, however, he averaged 22.0 points, 5.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 2.3 three-point field goals made on .473/.432/.800 shooting.
Success in the G League is far from a guarantee of similar results in the NBA, but Hood-Schifino has a strong jump shot and intriguing facilitating abilities.
Unfortunately, the Lakers declined the club option on Hood-Schifino's contract for the 2025-26 season. That will allow him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, which has inevitably made him a focal point of recent trade rumors.
The Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, and Utah Jazz appear to be teams to watch in possible negotiations, per Fischer's aforementioned report.
Moving forward, Hood-Schifino will become one of the most interesting players to keep an eye on in Los Angeles. It's still possible that he'll have a future with the Lakers, but the team no longer has the right to match potential contract offers.
Only time will tell if JJ Redick's interest in continuing to develop Hood-Schifino will result in a future with the organization or if the Lakers' 2023 first-round draft pick was officially wasted.