The Los Angeles Lakers made a blockbuster trade in 2019 when they sent Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and three first-round picks. Some of these picks have already been conveyed and are present on the Pelicans roster. However, one of the most valuable picks might be one of the most understated ones.
The Lakers gave up plenty of unprotected first-round picks, but the one that may come to bite them in the behind is a 2023 pick-swap, where the Pelicans get the better pick out of the Lakers and themselves. Considering how good the Pelicans are this season and the 2023 draft being the tank for Victor Wembanyama, the value of this pick is shooting up every time the Lakers lose.
Fans are already making fun of the 0-4 Lakers possibly giving the stacked Pelicans squad Victor Wembanyama by winning the draft lottery.
If the #Lakers end up a lottery team this season, the #Pelicans will get their pick next year 😬
▪️ They owe them the pick from the Anthony Davis trade
▪️ It's not impossible for NOP to land Victor Wembanyama
No consolation for the Lakers 😓 pic.twitter.com/6cyoKCTQSr
— Fadeaway World (@FadeawayWorld) October 25, 2022
The #Lakers current lack of lasers means the New Orleans #Pelicans currently hold a 14% chance to secure Victor Wembanyama next June.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) October 26, 2022
I hope Victor Wembanyama likes gumbo 🫠
— 🏆LakersGuru🏆 (@GuruLakers) October 27, 2022
The Lakers are really just handing the Pelicans Wembanyama. pic.twitter.com/SzX41OEkK2
— Bibs (@BibsCorner) October 27, 2022
The fact that the Pelicans are borderline contenders right now as well as having a legitimate chance of getting Wembanyama is crazy
— Mick (@DBGyt_) October 27, 2022
Best genre of Twitter this season: Lakers fans who don't know the Pelicans control their pick in the Wembanyama sweepstakes pic.twitter.com/mXFnylgteB
— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) October 23, 2022
Pelicans could win the title and draft Victor Wembanyama a week later
— Jonas Valanciunas Have A Good Game? (@DJVHAGG) October 21, 2022
Wembanyama in NO via the Lakers would be poetic justice https://t.co/TqK71a6Y7U
— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) October 27, 2022
There are a lot of great potential storylines for the next 12 months of the NBA, but the Pelicans getting Victor Wembanyama with the Lakers pick would be tough to top.
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) October 24, 2022
Victor Wembanyama gonna look good as a Pelican https://t.co/eVqv9XgRUF
— Sharief Ishaq (@ShariefWDSU) October 27, 2022
Lakers really gonna get the Pelicans Wembanyama
— 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒆 🌩 (@Three_Cone) October 19, 2022
Me looking at the Lakers compete for Victor Wembanyama.. pic.twitter.com/xa7Dr5lUgj
— CLAN the SPURS fan (@ClanTheSpursFan) October 24, 2022
pelicans really boutta have zion, ingram, and wembanyama from the lakers pick next year lol
the league is finished pic.twitter.com/EOLa4HUTKF
— 𝙙𝙤𝙢 🪐 (@hoodiedom) October 27, 2022
Wembanyama on the Pelicans might be something that is so league-changing that every team will get concerned. They currently have one of the brightest futures in the league already and adding Wembanyama to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram might be game over for everyone else.
Can The Lakers Avoid Giving The Pelicans This Gift?
The only way the Lakers avoid this situation is if this pick gets bad odds and it doesn’t go to them or if they are able to fight back from their terrible 0-4 start. LeBron James has started a season 0-4 before, but that was as a rookie. None of his teams have ever qualified for the playoffs after starting 0-3, let alone 0-4.
Even if the Lakers get a late lottery pick to send to the Pelicans, it will be better for everyone else. This is a stacked draft class, so adding a prospect like one of the Thompson twins would still greatly strengthen their squad.
If LA can make a comeback by trading players away to get better-fitting roster pieces, this is not something anyone needs to be worried about. Until that happens, the Lakers are going to alarm fans and executives about the possibility of Wembanyama heading to the Bayou.
