Los Angeles Lakers: Ranking team’s top needs during 2018 NBA Draft

With their free agency plans already in place, the Los Angeles Lakers would be wise to address some of their more specific needs during the 2018 NBA Draft.

Based on the way fans are talking right now, you’d think the Los Angeles Lakers were perfect. Just sign LeBron James and Paul George, and make room for another championship banner because the NBA Finals are nearly guaranteed. Right? RIGHT?

Well, maybe not so much. I can assure you that, while this Lakers team boasts significant upside, it’s far from perfect.

If the Lakers have any hopes of staking their claim to the Western Conference in 2018-19, they’ll need more than just a max contract signing or two. What they’ll need to do is to fill the other gaps currently present in this roster. As we all know, an NBA team isn’t all about the starting five — depth is imperative to winning championships.

I like this team’s potential moving forward. There are so many young, compelling pieces already in place. As you probably already know, though, the puzzle is far from finished. This isn’t one of those kiddy, four-piece puzzles — this is a 1,000-piece puzzle that requires patience, thought and investment. The process of finishing it begins during the 2018 NBA Draft.

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With that in mind, let’s jump right into the Lakers’ top three needs as we inch closer to the draft. I don’t think they’ll be able to address every single one come June 21, but addressing one or two will get them that much closer to becoming contenders in the not-too-distant future.