NBA Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers Could Trade For Lottery Pick In Upcoming Draft

It is highly unlikely that the Los Angeles Lakers could land a solid pick in the upcoming NBA Rookie Draft, obviously due to the huge chance that they could go all the way to winning the Larry O’Brien this season. But while the priority of LeBron James and company is to snap the 10-year title drought, the front office work continues with speculation that the team could go after a lottery pick in the draft via a trade.

Jonathan Kiernan of the Lake Show Life projects the Lakers landing North Carolina’s Cole Anthony as a late lottery pick in a swap deal with the Sacramento Kings. The former Tar Heel had been a highly touted talent – even going as high as a projected top pick – before seeing his stock plummet with the emergence of other prospects expected to join the class.

“In this hypothetical situation, the Los Angeles Lakers are now at the 12th overall pick,” Kiernan wrote. “Depending on which scout you ask, most would agree that blue-chip talent ends at pick (No.) 4. LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman, Obi Toppin, and Anthony Edwards are the consensus top four picks in most people’s draft boards.

“While the Lakers could take players like combo guard RJ Hampton, Duke’s Vernon Carey Jr or Minnesota’s Daniel Oturu, who are all solid talents available at the end of the lottery, it might be in the best interest of the Lakers to swing for the fences and draft a prospect who has fallen from grace over the last year.

“Cole Anthony.”

Frank Vogel could not deny that his frail back-up point guard spot remains a chink in his roster’s armor, making Anthony an ideal choice to fil the reliever’s role to James, who has been the Lakers’ starting guard since the 2019-2020 season.

“Put Cole Anthony in a situation where he doesn’t need to be the 1st 2nd and at times even the 3rd option, and you are going to get one hell of a player,” Kiernan added.

“Anthony has the potential to be a number one guy, not on a championship contender but for rebuilding or middle of the road team. He is a long way off realizing that potential.”

The potential deal would involve the Lakers sending away Kyle Kuzma, Quinn Cook, Talen Horton-Tucker, Danny Green, and the Lakers’ own 2020 1st round pick, which could go as low as the 30^th selection if they win the title.

In return, the purple and gold could tap Anthony as a late lottery pick while likewise adding another offensive arsenal in Buddy Hield, who could provide the needed floor spacing for James and Anthony Davis to operate.