'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The LA Lakers’ summer of uncertainty started when Jamal Murray’s jumper with 3.6 seconds left in Game 5 against the Denver Nuggets went in. Murray’s second game-winner in the series pushed the Nuggets to a 108-106 victory. LA went home for the second straight postseason against the same opponents.
LA’s next big event to look forward to is the 2024 NBA Draft which will be on June 26 and 27 in New York. Lakers GM Rob Pelinka is armed with two picks in the said draft. He will pick No. 17 after the New Orleans Pelicans deferred to draft in 2025. Pelinka will get his second chance to improve the roster with the No. 55 pick in the second round.
Trending
LeBron James’ future with the LA Lakers is the team’s biggest concern. Pelinka will be doing his best to construct a better supporting cast to entice the four-time MVP to stay. James has until two days after the draft to opt in or out of his $54.1 million player option.
Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.
Who will the LA Lakers get in the first round?
The LA Lakers get the No. 17 pick if the New Orleans Pelicans choose to draft in 2025. LA will have several options depending on how things will unfold on June 26. Names such as Zach Edey, Kel’el Ware, Kyshawn George and Ja’Kobe Walter have been assigned to the team in mock drafts. Fans and analysts will continue their guessing game until Pelinka’s time arrives to reveal his choice.
Ware and Edey are two of the names that the Lakers are reportedly interested in. They have Anthony Davis signed to a long-term deal so the team may be looking to move AD back to the power forward. The former Indiana center and college hoop’s most dominant player over the past two years will be players to monitor.
The Lakers could get Bronny James with the No. 55 pick
After the LA Lakers’ first-round pick, they could go all in for Bronny James. It is no secret that LeBron James wants to play with his son, a goal that will likely push Rob Pelinka to add another James to the roster.
Rich Paul, though, the agent of the father and son, told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony that the two are not a package deal. The Lakers could get the former USC guard but the four-time NBA champ could still play elsewhere.
Still, Pelinka would rather have Bronny James even if LeBron James doesn’t see it as leverage to let him stay in Hollywood.
The No. 17 and No. 55 picks could be traded to go up the draft ladder
The LA Lakers could also be using smoke and mirrors leading into the draft next week. Instead of following the order, they could package their assets together with a player or two to go up the ladder. Reports have surfaced that Rob Pelinka may be looking to get into the top 10. To get there, he can use this year’s capital to grease the wheels of a potential deal.
