NBA Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers’ Top Priority Should Be Keeping Lottery Pick In 2015 Draft

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By @IanClarkMcEwan

Clarkson Scott Talk

Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

With the official decision for Kobe Bryant to opt for surgery to repair his injured shoulder, the Los Angeles Lakers are now, with no pretenses toward contending, in rebuilding mode. This means that their primary objective this season should be player development and keeping their lottery pick in the 2015 NBA draft.

While the Lakers have committed to player development, giving ample time to second round pick Jordan Clarkson in recent games, their victory over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday moved them a game closer to passing the Orlando Magic for the fifth worst record in the NBA. If they were to pass Orlando, the Lakers lower their chances of getting a top five pick from 82 percent to roughly 55 percent. There are a few ways the Lakers can continue to develop their young talent, while also protecting their odds of receiving a top five pick in the upcoming draft. The reason that keeping their top five pick is so important is that any pick after the top five must be given to the Phoenix Suns as part of their ill-fated Steve Nash trade.

The first thing the Lakers can do is look to trade Jordan Hill, Carlos Boozer and/or Nick Young. These are the Lakers’ three most established veterans, and the three most productive players the Lakers have this season. Hill has been in trade rumors before, and has another year on his deal following this season worth $9 million. This makes the financial commitment for another team minimal, considering the market price for players of his ability in free agency.

Boozer has a contract worth roughly $3.25 million for any team interested in acquiring him, and his play off the bench for the Lakers this season should prove to other teams that he still has something left in the tank.

Young continues to be an enigma, and may not be as tradable as the first two players mentioned above. His play in the month of January has been awful, and head coach Byron Scott has openly questioned his effort level and if he wants to remain a member of the Lakers. Young also has three more years remaining on his deal, reducing flexibility for teams trying to get into the free agent market this summer.

The Lakers will never admit to tanking, but that is their best option for improving next season. They must develop the young players on their roster, specifically Clarkson, and a trade or two could bring some much needed assets into the fold that could be younger players or draft picks. It’s time for the Lakers to swallow their pride and look toward the future to give Bryant any chance of capturing elusive championship No. 6.

Ian McEwan is a blogger for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @IanClarkMcEwan,“Like”him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. He is not the British author.

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