With the 2024 NBA Draft upon us, the Lakers will look to add to their roster and hope to extend the championship window with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The 2024 NBA Draft will offer a host of opportunities for the Lakers, whether through the draft itself or via trade. As things stand, the purple and gold have the No. 17 and No. 55 picks in the two-day event with chances to make selections on both Wednesday and Thursday.
For quite a while, it sounded like the Lakers would trade their 2024 pick along with 2029 and 2031 picks for a superstar. Rob Pelinka effectively said as much after the team did not make a move at the trade deadline in February.
However, as the draft neared, the rumors failed to heat up and the possibility of the team making a deal faded. Vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka’s comments at JJ Redick’s press conference on Monday really felt like a nail in the coffin on trade talks.
As a result, the team will instead look to hit yet again on a draft pick, something they’ve done repeatedly throughout the years. While last year was an anomaly in that regard, the team will hope to find an instant contributor.
The Bronny James situation hangs over the draft as well. After working out with only the Lakers and Suns, it feels highly likely that he ends up either in Los Angeles or Phoenix.
It’s a lot to unpack and dissect over the two days of the 2024 NBA Draft. Fortunately, we’ll have everything you need to know about the draft over the two-day event, so be sure to check back here regularly to see our constantly updating news stream.