Lakers Top Draft Targets with #17 Overall Pick
Exploring Options and Strategies for the Los Angeles Lakers #17 Overall Pick in the NBA Draft
LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers hit the offseason in late May following a 4-0 series sweep by Nikola Jokić’s Denver Nuggets that left fans in the Crypto.com Arena in shambles. Following a successful trade deadline by Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka, the team ripped off 2 good months of basketball to finish the regular season on a high before going into a playoff run that exceeded expectations.
With the season finished, the Lakers must turn their heads towards June 22nd’s NBA Draft, where the team currently selects 17th. A pick in the middle of the first round that currently holds lots of ability to swing either way, in this case being a more win-now player or a player for the future similar to the Max Christie pick a year ago. Below are a couple of options that would be viable at #17:
Potential Draft Prospects
#1 - Jordan Hawkins - Guard - 6’5” 195 | UCONN
Jordan Hawkins to the Los Angeles Lakers is a match made in heaven. Hawkins, fresh off of a National Championship, can help add to the championship DNA already in the Lakers locker room with his catch-and-shoot ability. Hawkins’ shooting prowess has already led him to draw comparisons to Klay Thompson and Rip Hamilton.
2 Minutes of Jordan Hawkins shooting on the move
All of this shooting ability that Hawkins possesses shows why he could instantly join the Lakers and fit in. As long as he stays in tip-top shape, LeBron James and Austin Reaves will be able to find him consistently for easy baskets. There is some untapped upside off the dribble for Hawkins, which he will hopefully mature into as he grows throughout his career.
#2 - Kobe Bufkin - Guard - 6’4” 195 | Michigan
19 y/o Michigan sophomore guard Kobe Bufkin is another guard in play at #17. Bufkin is a skillful, tough-nosed 2-way guard who can bring a little of everything. Despite being more of a combo guard, Bufkin offers encouraging upside as a passer making occasional live ball reads and showing promise in the Pick & Roll. As good as Bufkin is, the main knock on him is that he isn’t great at one thing.
For the time being, Bufkin’s fit on this LA team would be a tad clunky as I feel as if for him to reach his ceiling, which is SGA-esque, he would have to have the ball in his hands to display his excellent change of pace. But don’t worry Lakers fans, Bufkin is equipped with a respectable 3-point jumper shooting 35.5% from beyond the arc this past season, allowing him to play off the ball comfortably if needed. Bufkin is a tantalizing prospect that could bring a bit of win-now and upside to LA should Rob Pelinka pull the trigger on the Michigan man.
#3 - Nick Smith Jr. - Guard - 6’5” 185 | Arkansas
Lastly, Nick Smith Jr. is another option at #17 as a player who is more of SG, yet a guy who can take on secondary ball-handling responsibilities. Smith Jr., an uber-talented player ranked #1 in his 2022 High School Class, could help pack a scoring punch off the bench. Smith Jr.’s primary concern is his injury history which plagued him throughout his one and only season in Fayetteville, leading down the path of inconsistency.
Draft Express - Nick Smith Jr. Pro Day
Smith Jr.’s ability to create his own shot will take him far at the next level and is one of the main reasons he has turned heads around the league. After all, Smith Jr. was still the #1 player in his high school class, which tells you that there is tons of upside to be tapped into. While he doesn’t fit seamlessly for the current, Smith Jr. does fit for the long run offering a guy who can replace some of the older guys’ scoring output in the post-LeBron era for LA.
Wrap-Up
With an intriguing decision looming, Rob Pelinka and co. in LA must select a guard that attends to the Lakers’ needs of both a player for the present and the future. Jordan Hawkins, Kobe Bufkin, and Nick Smith Jr. all attend to that filter, and one of the three must be the selection at #17. The Lakers must carefully consider their immediate needs and long-term goals. I believe selecting Jordan Hawkins is the best possible pick. He would immediately impact the team’s championship aspirations while leaving upside on the backend of his rookie deal. That is why the Lakers must select one of Jordan Hawkins, Kobe Bufkin, or Nick Smith Jr.