2017 NBA Draft: 3 options for Los Angeles Lakers at No. 28 overall
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Even if the Los Angeles Lakers lose their lottery pick, they'll still have an opportunity to add an impact player at the end of the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft.
Since the end of the regular season, the focus has been on how the Los Angeles Lakers will spend their early first round pick — if the lottery even allows them to keep it. However, folks seem to be overlooking the fact that the Lakers also own a late first-round pick as well.
Los Angeles swapped Lou Williams for the Houston Rockets' first round pick and Corey Brewer right before the 2017 NBA Trade Deadline. Although the loss of Williams was a huge blow to the Lakers' offensive firepower, it gave them more draft assets and building blocks. When you look at the 2017 NBA Draft class, it's easy to imagine the selection turning into a quality contributor.
There are a number of intriguing late first round talents who should be available at No. 28 overall. That's the point in the draft where many role players are drafted, and hidden gems can be found. I'm sure the Lakers will be holding out hope they can turn the pick into a productive part of this roster.
Either way, it gives this franchise another opportunity to get better. Especially if they end up losing their top-three pick, it'll be all the more valuable to this ongoing rebuild.
With that in mind, here are a few prospects who could be legitimate options for the Lakers at No. 28 overall. All of them stand a decent chance of sliding, but offer the talent and upside this Los Angeles squads needs more of heading into the 2017-18 campaign.
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Hamidou Diallo, SG, Kentucky
Before we dive too deeply into this one, there's something you need to know about Hamidou Diallo.
Following in the footsteps of Thon Maker, the electric shooting guard prospect avoided the typical one-and-done approach for top prospects. Instead, he enrolled at Kentucky in January but never actually played for the Wildcats–Diallo just practiced with the team during their tournament run.
That essentially makes him a none-and-done player, taking an unorthodox approach to the NBA's rule on players needing to be a year removed from high school. And despite not playing in a game in months, it appears he could hear his name called in the first round.
Why? Because Diallo is an absurd athlete who recently lit up the 2017 NBA Combine. He's got ridiculous hops, is extremely quick and shows rare explosiveness. Combine that with his intriguing skill set and 19 years of age, and you've got a project who could develop into one of the NBA's most exciting 2-guards.
After trading away Williams this offseason, the Lakers are looking rather thin at guard. They've obviously got D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson, but could use more weapons off the bench. Theoretically, Diallo could come in and learn behind those two with the potential to take over as a starter not far down the road.
This would be a risky move, but the potential gains of drafting Diallo would make it a worthwhile gamble.
Note: Diallo hasn't officially declared for the draft. He has until March 24 to sign with an agent, or return to the college ranks.
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Harry Giles, C, Duke
I must warn you that this would be a high-risk, high-reward pick for the Lakers. Harry Giles was once considered one of the top up-and-coming names in the sport of basketball. Three knee surgeries and the accompanying mental issues later, and Giles is no first-round lock.
Before destroying and rebuilding his knee, Giles was seen as a near-generational talent. A dominant paint presence with the scoring, rebounding and defensive tenacity to strike fear in opposing teams, Giles had all of the pieces you wanted in a young, uber-athletic big man. The injuries, however, were apparent in his only season at Duke, when he struggled to make a significant impact.
There are some holes to his game, though. Giles is a bit limited offensively, lacking a reliable jumper and a refined arsenal of post moves. His passing and ballhandling aren't great either, and he still needs to fill out that 6'10" frame. And yet, the amount of time he's spent away from the game has played a big part in his slow development in these areas.
All of the athleticism and physical tools are there for Giles to be a star someday. Unfortunately, the injury-prone knees will scare teams away from the former Blue Devil. However, if a team is willing to be patient, he has the potential to pay serious dividends somewhere down the road.
The Lakers could use a star in the making down low. Timofey Mozgov is a limited, overpaid piece of this roster, and Ivica Zubac is still a raw prospect. If Giles gets healthy and lives up to his immense potential, he could easily make one or both of them irrelevant.
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OG Anunoby, SF, Indiana
Right now, there's a very wide range that OG Anunoby is expected to come off the board. While I've seen him mentioned as a possible late-lottery selection, I've also seen him sliding to the end of the first round. Chances are slim he's available at No. 28, but it's not impossible.
If he is available, the Lakers would be wise to think long and hard about calling his name.
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Anunoby has earned a lot of attention among scouting circles for his outstanding defensive skills. He has the makings of a lockdown defender, and his decision to stay in school one extra year helped him develop in that department. We've seen how big of an impact he can make on defense, and we all know the Lakers could use an upgrade in that department.
Realistically, there are two problems with Anunoby that could force him to fall on draft day.
The first is his lack of offensive prowess. Anunoby struggles to create his own shot, and isn't great at using the dribble to find opportunities. His shooting is also a work in progress, as he has a tough time consistently sinking jumpers and isn't a reliable threat from three-point range. If he's going to excel at the next level, he needs to develop a more dependable game on the offensive end.
The other issue is his medical concerns. Anunoby suffered a torn ACL back in January, which will obviously make some teams wary. His draft stock will likely come down to how his knee checks out prior to the draft.
All in all, Anunoby is an intriguing option in the second half of the first round. If he slides due to his offensive limitations and rehabbing knee, don't be surprised to see the Lakers jump at the opportunity to add a defensive-minded combo forward to complement Brandon Ingram.
