Report: Lakers have explored trading up in the 2021 NBA draft
The 2021 NBA draft is just a few days away, so teams must begin finalizing their top options on who to select.
This year, the Los Angeles Lakers have the No. 22 overall pick in the draft and have plenty of solid options they can select who fit the team’s needs.
Los Angeles’ biggest need is a combination of shooting and shotmaking, someone who can take on defenders and convert off-the-dribble or by attacking the basket.
One of the players who fits that need is Oregon guard Chris Duarte, who was originally seen as a late first-round pick option because, at 24 years old, he’s one of the oldest players in the draft; that’s not ideal for upside reasons.
But with teams conducting workouts with players throughout the last few weeks, Duarte’s stock has jumped, and he could be a possible option for the Golden State Warriors at No. 14 because of his instant ability to make threes.
If the Lakers want to be aggressive to land Duarte, or any other prospect they’re high on they think won’t be available at No. 22, then trading up in the draft is a plausible choice.
According to Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, Los Angeles has explored that possibility:
“Duarte is thought to be the guy the Lakers want to fall. I’ve heard some sources discuss that they’ve looked into moving up the board. But it might be tough to do that given their current asset cache.”
The Lakers have also reportedly looked to move down in the draft and acquire more second-round picks, which would be reasonable given the salary difference between first-round picks and second-rounders.
But as Vecenie points out, the Lakers have a barren field of assets. They’ve reportedly offered one or a combination of Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to almost every team in the league, which is the best it gets for trade chips L.A. can use right now.
Talen Horton-Tucker, Dennis Schroder and Montrezl Harrell are all possibilities, but the former two are entering free agency and would need to agree to a sign-and-trade while Harrell has a pending player option.
Taking all of the draft news into context, it looks like the Lakers have done their homework and have an idea of the type of prospects they want whether they move up, stay put or trade down.
The draft begins on July 29.
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