The Los Angeles Lakers traded a second-round draft pick for shooting guard Luke Kennard. That seems harmless enough, particularly when one considers that Kennard played a significant role in Los Angeles winning a playoff series.
Kennard has signed with the Phoenix Suns, however, meaning the Lakers spent a draft pick on a rental. Sadly, it's become a common tactic under Rob Pelinka.
Los Angeles traded three second-round draft picks to acquire Dorian Finney-Smith during the 2024-25 season. Much like Kennard, he played an important role for the Lakers. In fact, he helped Los Angeles turn their defense around and ultimately win 50-plus games for the first time in five seasons.
Unfortunately, just like Kennard, Finney-Smith signed with a different team the following offseason, meaning the Lakers, again, gave up draft picks for a rental.
Los Angeles is now without a single second-round draft pick until 2032. That would've been difficult enough to stomach, as Los Angeles could've utilized those selections to either develop up-and-coming players or trade for quality veterans who aren't quite worth a first-rounder.
Unfortunately, Pelinka has also made a habit out of trading first-round draft picks for players who failed to complete even just two full seasons in Los Angeles.
Rob Pelinka continues to trade draft picks for rentals
Los Angeles was justified when it traded first-round draft picks for Anthony Davis, Luka Doncic, and Walker Kessler. All three were signed to long-term deals and were brought in to operate as either a franchise player or a cornerstone of the starting lineup.
Unfortunately, those aren't the only players the Lakers have given up first-round draft picks to acquire—and the others weren't quite as justifiable.
Los Angeles traded a first-round draft pick for Dennis Schröder on the night of the 2020 NBA Draft. That pick was utilized to select eventual All-Defense honoree Jaden McDaniels. Unfortunately, Schröder left the following summer on a one-year, $5.9 million contract with the Boston Celtics.
Schröder's departure was fueled by the fact that Los Angeles traded another first-round draft pick that same summer for Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook finished the 2021-22 season with the Lakers, but he was traded midway through the 2022-23 campaign. Los Angeles acquired D'Angelo Russell in the deal to take his place. They shipped out another first-round draft pick to do so. Unfortunately, Russell followed a similar fate, playing 122 regular season games for the Lakers before he was traded for Finney-Smith.
With Kennard's departure, that means Pelinka has now traded three first-round picks and four second-rounders for a grand total of zero players who lasted two full seasons with the Lakers.
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