Los Angeles Lakers: 7 players to target in the 2020 Draft

Team needs

Every mock draft is different, so it’s difficult to get a perfect sense of which players will be available at pick No. 28. I looked at the most recent 1st round mock drafts from NBC, CBS, The Ringer, and Sports Illustrated and compiled a list of every player projected in the 23-30 range (22 total). I then charted each mock’s projection for these players, listing them by average pick selection (used ’31’ for 2nd round).

Big Men?

So which players should the Lakers be targeting? Again, it will depend a bit on how free agency plays out. If Los Angeles resigns each of Davis, Howard, and McGee, the team has no need for another big man next season. But if one of Howard or McGee doesn’t re-sign, drafting an interior player could make some sense. And even if both do come back, it could be on very short-term deals. As Howard and McGee continue to age (34 and 32 respectively) a younger big could prove valuable in the seasons to come.

Point Guard?

Despite his up-and-down play in the regular season, Rajon Rondo became a significant contributor in the playoffs. With LeBron as the de facto point guard, Rondo’s ability to handle some of the playmaking load was extremely valuable. If the 34-year-old does re-sign, the Lakers can probably get by without another point guard next season. If he doesn’t, this will definitely be a team need. It’s unclear whether any rookie picked at No. 28 would be capable of filling the void, so this might be better addressed in free agency. Similar to Howard and McGee, however, it’s unclear how many seasons Rondo has left in the tank (and likely would be on a short-term deal). Drafting a younger point guard might still be prudent, even if they aren’t ready to contribute as soon as next season.

Wings?

Like most NBA teams, the Lakers can never get enough versatility and shooting at the wing/forward position. If each of Caldwell-Pope, Bradley and Morris return, this will be less of a concern. But again, one can never have too many of these players. The front office will likely target prospects who can help the team maintain its stingy defense (No. 3 defensively in the regular season), but 3-point shooting ability should be considered as well (21st-best 34.9 percent from three).

Now that the team’s roster needs have been considered, which prospects should the Lakers be targeting?