The Los Angeles Lakers have a busy summer ahead, and trading their upcoming first-round pick has become one of their top priorities in the 2024 offseason. According to Lakers insider Jovan Buha, the Lakers will be aggressive in their pursuit of a trade that will either land them a third star or a valuable bench player.
“The Lakers are going to look to move that No. 17 pick on draft night. It will be the first time that they could use all three of their tradable first-round picks,” said Buha. “It’s a prime opportunity for them to potentially get either a third star or to improve the roster by attaching one or two or three of those picks alongside players under contract to upgrade the starting lineup or the bench. But it’s the first time they’ll have more than one pick at their disposal. And my understanding is that they are going to be aggressive. And they’re going to be active. And they’re going to try and use that.”
It wasn’t long ago that the Lakers were hoarding their picks to use at just the right moment. But with the 2024 draft projected to be relatively light in star potential, the team is willing to give up their pick if it means getting some more help for LeBron.
Since Bronny James is still in play for the second round, the Lakers will surely want to keep at least one of their selections this summer — but they have ambitious plans to keep building up their roster, and giving up a first-round pick may be necessary in any needle-moving trade.
At the very least, with what we know now, we can confidently say that the Lakers are committed to building around LeBron, which means they have two years left to build a squad that can compete for the title.
A Big Summer For The Los Angeles Lakers
After another disappointing campaign, the Lakers are coming into this offseason with a lot more questions than answers about the future… but they’re not ready to give up yet.
In the aftermath of Darvin Ham’s departure, the Lakers have a hole to fill at head coach and nobody knows who is the right man for the job. Now that Mike Budenholzer is off the table, the search has officially narrowed for the Purple and Gold, and if they don’t find someone soon, their top choices may come off the board.
There’s also the ongoing situation with LeBron James. As he mulls the next step of his career, the Lakers have no choice but to sit and wait for his decision, which will have dramatic implications for their short-term future. if they are able to draft Bronny, it will bode well for their chance of keeping the King but many critics would question if it’s worth spending a draft pick over.
Regardless of what the critics think went wrong, the Lakers are doubling down on their championship core and they firmly believe they can still win with LeBron and Davis at the helm. If they tweak the roster with some moves here and there, it could be enough to get them over the edge but that first-round pick will be key in determining what kind of return they get for their best trade package.
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