Sports

The top 2024 NBA prospects to partner with LeBron James and Anthony Davis are Zach Edey and Tristan da Silva.

All of the talk about the Lakers possibly taking Bronny James with their second-round pick may have people forgetting that they also own a first-round pick.

Los Angeles’ 2024 first-round pick belonged to the Pelicans from the Anthony Davis trade but New Orleans had the option to defer the selection to 2025. When the Lakers were locked into No. 17 overall after a first-round playoff exit, it became likely that the Pelicans would be patient in waiting for a more talented 2025 draft class.

New Orleans made that decision official on May 31, and the Lakers will have the chance to put a talented young player around LeBron James and Anthony Davis with a first-round pick.

Who should Los Angeles target at No. 17 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft? The Sporting News breaks down a few options below.

MORE: Ranking the best free agent options for Lakers

What 2024 NBA Draft picks do the Lakers have?

The Lakers have one first-round pick and one second-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

  • No. 17 overall
  • No. 55 overall (via LAC)

The Pelicans owned the Lakers’ 2024 first-round pick but exercised their option to defer it to 2025 when there is expected to be a stronger draft class.

The Lakers received the Clippers’ second-round pick in a four-way trade during the 2022-23 season.

Who Lakers should select in 2024 NBA Draft

The Lakers know James won’t play forever, so they face a few different paths with their first-round pick.

They could target a prospect who fits with James and Davis and is ready to make an immediate impact, they could go for a long-term development project or they could try and trade the pick for a win-now asset.

If Los Angeles stands pat and makes a pick, here are a few different options that could be available at No. 17.

Tristan da Silva, F, Colorado

I projected da Silva to the Lakers at No. 17 in my post-Lottery Mock Draft. The 23-year-old senior is the type of upperclassman prospect who could make an immediate impact next to James and Davis.

da Silva is a fluid 6-9 wing who can shoot the 3, handle the ball and defend multiple positions. His ability to play with or without the ball in his hands fits L.A.’s current roster. He shot 39.5 percent from 3 on nearly 300 attempts over the last two seasons, proving to be more than capable of spacing the floor for the Lakers star duo.

da Silva should be at the top of the Lakers draft board if they want a prospect who better fits LeBron’s timeline.

Jared McCain, G, Duke

McCain is a happy medium between an immediate impact and a long-term prospect. The 20-year-old plays with poise and confidence beyond his age.

McCain is a 6-3 combo guard. He is a connective playmaker with 3-and-D s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s that should translate to the NBA. His ball-handling duties were limited behind returning veterans at Duke, but that allowed him to shoot 41.4 percent from 3. He got more comfortable as a secondary creator and scorer as the year went on, and he will only continue to develop.

McCain might not enter the Lakers rotation right away but the potential is there for him to play sooner rather than later.

Zach Edey, C, Purdue

Between Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes, the Lakers never got consistent production from their backup centers last season. Why not consider the most productive player in all of college basketball with this pick?

Edey proved his ceiling as a prospect is higher than most would have thought during his March Madness run. He averaged 29.5 points, 14.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, and he showed that his conditioning and mobility improved tremendously, playing all but two minutes and 50 seconds from the Sweet 16 through the title game.

The 22-year-old is capable of filling Los Angeles’ void behind Davis.

Related Posts

COMPLETE Super Rugby Pacific 2025 squads: Reds add Crusaders back, Suli, Petaia and young gun leave as all 11 lineups confirmed

Wallabies Suliasi Vunivalu and Jordan Petaia as well as young backline prospect Floyd Aubrey have left the Queensland Reds as the squads for all 11 clubs were confirmed…

Springboks show champion qualities as Cheslin Kolbe scores twice to beat England and pile more pressure on Steve Borthwick

The Springboks showed their world champion qualities to withstand a competitive England performance and take a 29-20 victory at Allianz Stadium on Saturday. It increases the pressure on…

Darcy Graham equals try record as Scotland post dominant win over Portugal

Winger Darcy Graham equalled the record for the most tries for Scotland as they ran in a total of nine in a dominant 59-21 victory over Portugal in…

‘Whirlwind’, ‘not ideal’: Why Suaalii was benched and Schmidt is more nervous about Wales clash than England

Aweek after naming Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in the midfield for his run-on Test, Joe Schmidt pulled yet another surprise by shifting the new Wallabies star to the bench. The…

France edge the All Blacks in Paris thriller as Scott Robertson’s side lose unbeaten tour record

France handed Scott Robertson his first defeat in six as they made it three successive victories over the All Blacks following a 30-29 success in Paris. In another…

Springboks’ Erasmus hails ‘special’ Kolbe after England try double

South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus paid tribute to the s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 and composure of Cheslin Kolbe after the wing scored two tries in the world champions’ 29-20 win over…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *