The Lakers Don't Have A Pick In 2022
The Lakers Don't Have A Pick In 2022
But I still need a spot to have placeholders of the upcoming draft
This is just a list of names. It is not the complete list of eligible prospects. These are the players I’ve briefly touched on with the evaluation process. It is using names as a placeholder compared to other mock drafts. It’s a way to keep my thought process with the draft separate from other mock drafts online. This has no regard to the teams, draft positions, or draft by need idea. The evaluation process is really just beginning for the upcoming draft season.
Chet Holmgren
Paolo Banchero
Jabari Smith
Jaden Ivey
AJ Griffin
Keegan Murray
Shaedon Sharpe
Nikola Jovic
Jalen Duren
Bennedict Mathurin
Johnny Davis
Tari Eason
Mark Williams
Patrick Baldwin Jr.
Dyson Daniels
Malaki Branham
Blake Wesley
Ousmane Dieng
Marjon Beauchamp
Wendell Moore
Ochai Agbaji
Terquavion Smith
Gabriela Procida
Vince Williams Jr.
Jeremy Sochan
Keon Ellis
Jake LaRavia
Dereon Seabron
Eyes on:
Peyton Watson
Pete Nance
Ryan Rollins
Andrew Nembhard
Mathew Mayer
Johnny Juzang
Ron Harper Jr.
Jalen Williams (Santa Clara)
Josiah James
It’s been a tough season for the Lakers, to say the least. But every year, the team gets at least one free shot to add talent, whether or not they have a pick. Austin Reaves wasn’t seen as a draft need last year but ended up one of the best acquisitions for the team. That is the whole idea of drafting the Best Player Available.
Personally, I’m not optimistic about the Lakers buying a second rounder, but if they do, I’ll be ready with a list of guys worth taking a shot, especially undrafted players.
Hopefully, this offseason, they can find another NBA player from the upcoming draft class. Reaves gets all the credit for being a legit NBA player, but I also want to point out that Joel Ayayi was absolutely worth a shot considering his rare skillset with off-the-ball movement. I’d also like to point out that Trevelin Queen was the G-League player of the year after spending time on the Laker Summer League team and Laker pre-season squad.
The team sure could use guys like Trevelin Queen, especially with his off-ball movement, 3pt. range, and unusual ability to force turnovers in the backcourt.
The Lakers added Stanley Johnson and Wenyen Gabriel towards the end of the season, and that helped add a level of energy and effort the team sorely needed. All of these players had chances with the Lakers and the organization chose to keep or let go of certain players, but this is their way of winning on the margins.
When the foundation of a team is a healthy LeBron James and Anthony Davis, role players with motor, range, and defensive awareness go far with the team.
That starts with a list of names worth seeing in the upcoming draft.