2014 NBA Draft: Grading each team’s draft
By Brad Rowland
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are in a state of flux, with only Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and big man Robert Sacre on the current roster. However, Los Angeles came into the night with valuable selections in this year’s draft, and they took full advantage. First, Mitch Kupchak and company settled on former Kentucky power forward Julius Randle with the seventh overall pick, and that is a home run pick. For much of the season, it appeared that Randle would be in the mix with the top-4 picks, and aside from a foot injury, there are very few concerns with his ability to produce from the moment he lands on the West Coast.
Later, the Lakers picked up former Missouri guard Jordan Clarkson with the 46th pick (in a trade with the Wizards), and while that may not seem like much, I believe he is a big-time steal. Clarkson has been miscast in some circles as an NBA point guard, but at 6-foot-5, he has nice size should he be moved off that position, and if not for some injury issues, he likely would have been a mid-to-late first round pick.
Grade: B+