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As the shockwaves resonate around the Los Angeles Lakers, the aftermath of the team dealing Timofey Mozgov and D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets for Brook Lopez and the 27th pick in the 2017 draft is beginning to clear.
The move leaves the Lakers with three first-round picks in this year’s draft and it appears the team doesn’t intend on keeping all three.
Per Spectrum Sportsnets Mike Bresnahan, the Lakers could look to package the picks and move up in the draft.
Don't be surprised if Lakers try to package 27th + 28th picks to move up in draft. We'll break down trade with BKN at 5 pm on @SpectrumSN https://t.co/AjdCA3Q0Ry
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) June 20, 2017
Chad Ford reported this week that the Lakers were looking to move up in the draft, targeting Luke Kennard and Zach Collins as potential draft prospects worth trading up for.
However, the deal may also be a precursor to a trade for Paul George. With the Lakers void of assets and Russell’s price unexpectedly low, the Lakers could look to package their two late-round draft picks along with a player to acquire George.
Just heard @Lakers offered @Pacers either Jordan Clarkson or Julius Randle and 27, 28 pick for Paul George.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) June 20, 2017
Can confirm this. Unclear if Pacers will accept. https://t.co/tQSiGrWsxh
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) June 20, 2017
Regardless of what the Lakers do in the coming days, this move feels like a set-up trade before a bigger one. As the saying going, where there’s smoke, there’s fire and there’s a whole lot of smoke going two ways right now for the Lakers.
It’s likely the Lakers will leave the offer on the table of both picks plus one of Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle for the next day or so before looking at a contingency plan should the Pacers refuse to budge.
But if Tuesday taught Laker fans anything, it’s that this is going to be one wild off-season.
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