By Montezz Allen
The highly anticipated NBA draft lottery was held May 20 and the Lakers, who hoped to vault into the top three picks, slid down to the No. 7 pick instead, killing their chances to land hot prospects like Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid and Jabari Parker.
To sum it all up in two words: they lost.
Although GM Mitch Kupchak mentioned the Lakers would consider waiting until the summer of 2015 to aggressively attack free agency, it’s still a possibility that Kupchak will trade the team’s pick for a player that can improve the team immediately.
There will most certainly be a quality player available at the No. 7 spot. But the question is whether L.A. should trade that pick for an instant game-changer.
However, this year’s draft is filled with formidable prospects. It’s one of the deepest drafts in the last 3-5 years — probably the deepest. No one knows how the final order will pan out come draft day on June 26.
That said, here are three players Los Angeles should consider trading its pick for:
Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love (Noah Graham/Getty Images)
This shouldn’t be a surprise at all. Kevin Love is coming off one of the best seasons of his young career.
Not to mention he’s a double-double machine, a great rebounder and can stretch the defense because he can shoot the deep ball.
Landing Love would be an immediate game changer and will give aging superstar shooting guard Kobe Bryant the help he wants and need. He’d also most likely become the face of the franchise, too, making the Lakers more attractive to other free agents in the future.
The Lakers have enough cap space to take on Love’s contract without adding an additional player apart from their draft pick to the deal.
Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams (USATSI)
Trade rumors tend to appear out of thin air when the NBA draft is near.
Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams has been subject to trade rumors and the Lakers are rumored to want the point guard.
Per the Los Angeles Daily News, if the Lakers can’t land Love, their secondary target is Brooklyn’s own, Deron Williams.
They wrote: “Another target for the Lakers is veteran point guard Deron Williams, who has been subpar in the past two seasons with Brooklyn. Williams, a former perennial All-Star, wants to get out of his current situation with the Nets in hopes of reviving his career with a championship contender team …”
Williams has been plagued with injuries — most notably his ankle — but putting on a Lakers jersey will inspire the perennial All-Star to get back on track. At one point Williams was considered as one of the top point guards in the league.
Steve Nash is huge question mark. One can argue that the 40-year-old point guard should retire.
Trading the No. 7 pick for Williams is a gamble and probably a long shot, but there’s nothing wrong with considering it.
Cleveland Cavaliers small forward Luol Deng (Mark Duncan/AP Photo)
I have the utmost respect for Luol Deng. The guy can put the ball in the basketball, he plays hard and he can defend his butt off.
As a matter fact, he’s one of the best defenders in the NBA.
Yes, Andrew Bynum.
The Lakers can use a player like Deng. The squad struggled mightily on the defensive end of floor. Granted, most of it was because Mike D’Antoni was their coach. Still, they lacked a perimeter defender.
Deng fits the mold.
Would the Lakers consider going after the 29-year-old veteran?
It’s a possibility. The Cavaliers would have to do a sign-and-trade, but the upside would be worth it.
Anything can happen leading up to the NBA draft in June, but these are just a few suggestions that the Lakers should consider if they plan on trading their pick for a veteran player.
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