5 Players the Lakers can only dream of falling to No. 17 at 2024 NBA Draft

Rob Dillingham, Kentucky Wildcats

It's no secret that the Los Angeles Lakers are in the market for a long-term answer at the point guard position. D'Angelo Russell has a player option for the 2024-25 season and may opt to sign elsewhere, thus leaving a void that the Lakers would struggle to fill.

It seemed unlikely a few weeks back, but with a widening range for when he could come off the board, Rob Dillingham is suddenly looking like a more realistic replacement for the Lakers to consider.

Jonathan Givony of ESPN reports that Dillingham could be available as late as No. 15 to the Miami Heat, which makes this more realistic than some might think. It's likely a product of his defensive upside concerns at 6'1" with a 6'3" wingspan.

Dillingham was also absent from the strength and agility drills at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine due to an ankle injury, which appears to have left some uncertain.

In saying that, Dillingham is the epitome of shifty as a player who knows how to create space with body control and ball-handling. He's also a tremendous shooter, knocking down 44.4 percent of his 144 three-point field goals as a freshman.

If Dillingham does, in fact, fall out of the Top 10, as Givony reported he could, then the Lakers would be wise to jump on the opportunity to trade up for a player with remarkable offensive potential.