Fansided

5 reasons LeBron owns Lakers with Magic Johnson gone

By Jason Cole

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 26: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Washington Wizards on March 26, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 26: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Washington Wizards on March 26, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
tanking
CHICAGO – MAY 15: NBA Deputy Commissioner, Mark Tatum awards the Philadelphia 76ers the number ten pick in the 2018 NBA Draft during the 2018 NBA Draft Lottery at the Palmer House Hotel on May 15, 2018 in Chicago Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Trade the 2019 first-round pick for impact players

Barring the long-shot chance of the Lakers getting the No. 1 overall pick or even one of the top four picks, don’t expect them to keep this selection. The Lakers currently sit at the No. 11 spot in a draft that is simply too weak for that pick to matter to a team that’s trying to make the playoffs next season. At age 34, LeBron isn’t going to be interested in a project player from the college or European ranks.

Even if the Lakers were magically (no pun intended) able to get the No. 1 overall pick, taking Zion Williamson would be only mildly intriguing to someone like LeBron. Williamson could have an immediate impact as a scorer, but a lot of things about his game (his defense and his conditioning to start with) are going to have to change before he becomes a true impact player. After Williamson, there are only three players who are even interesting in this draft (Jarrett Culver, R.J. Barrett and Ja Morant) and none of them appear to be huge impact players. Certainly not right away.

Next: 30 worst NBA playoff teams of all time

So look for the Lakers to do anything they can with this pick to get a proven player who can help the team win in the next two years. Of course, the specter of this draft doesn’t make that pick all that appealing, but there will be a market somewhere.  If LeBron can pull off this five-step plan, he has a chance to make the Lakers relevant again. At this point, that would be a stunning accomplishment.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers