2018 NBA Mock Draft: The summer is decision time

The Lakers are simultaneously exciting and unformed, making them a team that is interesting to mold in this space each week. There are a number of interesting players who could fit in Los Angeles, especially as they target free agents this summer and next. It’s reasonable to imagine that only a couple of the exciting prospects on the roster today will last through next summer.

Does that mean the Lakers will be more or less aggressive on draft night this season? They could opt to flip this pick, which came over from Cleveland in the Jordan Clarkson deal, as part of a package to move off an undesirable asset. They still need to escape Luol Deng’s deal to be most flexible this summer, perhaps able to keep the cap holds for their incumbent players on the books longer than expected or for sign-and-trade purposes. Think of this pick as more of an asset than a player, despite the Lakers also being out their own pick this season by way of the Steve Nash trade.

If Los Angeles expects 2019 to be their summer, then maybe they do pick a player in this spot. With no true rim protector on the roster and some of their best young players already showing limitations defensively, Alkins could appeal as a 3-and-D option who would look good in the Lakers’ free-flowing offense.