Day two of 2017 NBA Draftmas is here for the Los Angeles Lakers 2017 draft profile. It is time to break down one of the most storied franchises in NBA history, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Summary
The Lakers are currently in their worst era in franchise history. They have missed the playoffs in four straight seasons. L.A.’s overall record over the past four seasons is 91-237.
It isn’t all bad for the Lakers as they have the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. They also improved their win total by nine games from the previous season.
There is a lot of young talent and a promising young head coach. Rumors are also swirling that they will be the eventual landing spot for Paul George.
The Lakers’ biggest problem is youth and as Julius Randle, D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram continue to grow, wins will follow.
Los Angeles was a middle of the road team in scoring averaging 104.6 points per game which ranked 17th in the NBA. They shot 45 percent as a team, ranking 21st in the NBA. The Lakers also ranked 22nd in three-point percentage making 34.6 percent of their three-point attempts.
In order for the Lakers to improve, they will need to become a better offensive team. Experience and maturity for their young core will help improve their offense.
Defensively, the Lakers were pretty bad. They gave up 111.5 points per game which ranked them 28th in the NBA. They allowed opposing teams to shoot 48.3 percent from the field, which was the worst in the NBA. Los Angeles ranked 26th in three-point percentage allowing opposing teams to shoot 37 percent from behind the arc.
The Lakers need to improve defensively more than anything.
Picks & Needs
The Lakers have two picks in the draft, both in the first round.
First Round:Â No. 2, No. 28 (Via Houston)
At this point, the Lakers just need to get more talent that can help them win games. Their strategy in the draft should be to take the best available player. Their second pick should be used on a defender that can help improve the team’s low defensive rankings.
Targets & Thoughts
Pick #2: Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
Lonzo Ball is somehow stuck in his father’s shadow. Ball has to take tons of heat because of his father’s mouth. The pressure on Ball as he enters the NBA is already enormous and that pressure to succeed continues to grow every day.
His calm demeanor makes him extremely attractive as a franchise player given the circumstances. He has embraced the questions about his father. Ball has openly claimed his dream is to lead the Los Angeles Lakers.
On and off the court he seems completely unphased. It shows that no matter what happens he will be able to perform and if the Lakers are smart they will take Lonzo Ball and let him become the face of the franchise.
Lonzo Ball makes everyone around him better. Many have compared him to Jason Kidd and it is a pretty good comparison. He averaged 7.6 assists per game and helped the Bruins improve their record from 15-17 to 31-5.
His unique jump shot has been criticized but it works for him. In his one season at UCLA, Ball shot 55.1 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from behind the arc. One area he must improve in is his free throw shooting. He shot a below average 67.3 percent from the free throw line.
Lonzo has all the tools to be a hometown star. There are a million reasons the Lakers should take Ball but the biggest reason is that he can lead them back to the playoffs.
Pick #28: OG Anunoby, SF, Indiana
The Lakers must acquire players capable of playing great defense. OG Anunoby is one of the top perimeter defenders entering the 2017 NBA Draft. He has the size, length, quickness and athleticism to become a lockdown defender in the NBA. Anunoby averaged 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game last season. The Lakers will have plenty of offensive weapons on the roster. Drafting Anunoby will give Los Angeles a solid bench player capable of coming in to make a defensive impact.
Conclusion
The Lakers have the second overall pick for the third-straight season. If they take Lonzo Ball, the Lakers will have created one of the best young rosters in all of the NBA. Ball will improve all the players around him, therefore making the Lakers team as whole, better.
With their second first round pick the Lakers need to find some defense. They could go with a solid perimeter defender or a rim protector. Don’t be surprised if the Lakers fight for the eighth seed next season due to this year’s draft class.
Thanks for checking out the Los Angeles Lakers 2017 NBA Draft profile and tune in tomorrow for day three of NBA Draftmas to see what the Philadelphia 76ers are going to do.
NBA Draftmas Day 1: Boston Celtics
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