There has been a lot of talk about the Los Angeles Lakers and their future draft picks lately.
During the summer, it was rumored that the team was trying to do whatever it could to land another superstar on the team.
Yet, every possible trade deal hit a snag: LA didn’t want to give up those picks.
But General Manager Rob Pelinka said it’s not as simple as that.
Rob Pelinka on the Lakers potentially trading their picks: “Let me be abundantly clear … (LeBron) committed to our organization, we’re going to commit to him – including those picks – to see him to the finish line.” He emphasizes that they only get one shot to trade the picks.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) September 26, 2022
Speaking to the press about potentially trading their picks from 2027 and 2029, Pelinka opened up:
“Let me be abundantly clear…(LeBron) committed to our organization, we’re going to commit to him – including those picks – to see him to the finish line.”
This means that Pelinka and the Lakers would send away their draft picks if it meant they could get a great player to perform alongside James.
But has time run out for them to make any sort of deal happen?
Pelinka & His Picks
Now that he has made it clear that the team would trade away draft picks, fans will press Pelinka to do just that.
The team only has a few more years left with James before he retires and the longer they sit on these draft picks, the less time they have with their centerpiece superstar.
But they can’t just trade the picks away for anyone, it has to make sense and it has to be worth it for the Lakers.
The chances are that LA’s roster will stay the same moving into the new season, which means that James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook will have to get it together and make something work.
But do not be shocked if the Lakers aim to make a very big trade later this year – and don’t be shocked when their draft picks are part of it.
NEXT: Russell Westbrook Gets Honest About Being On The Lakers
