Sport

REVEALED: Why Lakers Are Afraid Of First-Round Pick

Published

5 months ago

July 3, 2024

The Lakers are reportedly unwilling to give up a first-round pick for the likes of Cam Johnson and Bruce Brown while the asking price for Jerami Grant is sky-high.

The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t been able to pull off any significant moves in the offseason thus far, and it appears some of that is down to their unwillingness to give up a first-round pick. Insider Anthony Irwin reported on the Lakers Lounge podcast that the asking price for some targets has been that pick.

“Brooklyn also, still a staring contest,” Irwin said. “Brooklyn wants a first-rounder for Dorian Finney-Smith, the Lakers don’t want to do that. Brooklyn wants a first-round pick and then some for — I don’t think they want two picks for Cam Johnson, I don’t think they can realistically ask for that. But the Lakers don’t want to give up, I don’t think even a first-round pick for Cam Johnson.

“I’ve heard that they’ve put in a call to Toronto about Bruce Brown,” Irwin stated. “Same issue that you run into, though. They want a first-round pick for Bruce Brown and I don’t think the Lakers want to give up a first-round pick for Bruce Brown.

“Put X name out there and either that team wants Austin Reaves, which is a non-starter with the Lakers, or they want a first-round pick and the Lakers are really holding on to that first-round pick,” Irwin concluded.

In this current market where Mikal Bridges went for five first-round picks, I don’t think it’s unreasonable for these teams to want one for these players. None of the three are stars, but are fine role players.

Dorian Finney Smith averaged 8.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game for the Brooklyn Nets last season. The 31-year-old is the prototypical 3-and-D wing and isn’t someone you’d be able to get without giving up that pick.

As for Cam Johnson, he averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game for the Nets in 2023-24. The 28-year-old is one of the premier marksmen in the NBA, having shot 40.7% from beyond the arc on 6.0 attempts per game over the last four seasons. With how highly teams value shooting, I don’t think it’s an unrealistic asking price.

Lastly, we get to Bruce Brown, who averaged 10.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game for the Raptors and the Pacers last season. The 27-year-old is another fine 3-and-D wing and is certainly worth a first-rounder. The Lakers were reportedly focused on acquiring Brown earlier this year and I don’t think they’ll get their man if they don’t part with their precious first-round pick.

Irwin also reported earlier in the episode that the Lakers want Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant, who averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game in the 2023-24 season. The asking price appears to be a bit too high, though, as the Trail Blazers want two first-round picks. (starts at the 37:52 mark in the above video):

“The Lakers are basically offering some combination of either Rui (Hachimura) and Gabe (Vincent) and a first, or (D’Angelo Russell) and Gabe and a first and maybe some additional draft compensation from there for Jerami Grant,” Irwin said. “And Portland wants both of those picks.”

The Trail Blazers feel that the Lakers are the more desperate team, so they’re going to wait to get the deal they want. That’s a solid strategy. Irwin reports that they also called the Lakers after the failed pursuit of Klay Thompson to see if they wanted to give up those picks for Grant, but they didn’t.

While the Lakers appear to not want to give up two first-rounders for Grant, GM Rob Pelinka said they would trade those picks for the right deal.

“Rob Pelinka says the Lakers and the rest of the NBA are now living in the “apron world” – referring to the new structure of the collective bargaining agreement and penalties for teams well into the tax. He says the team will part w/ two future 1st Rd picks for right deal.”

I wonder if this right deal will ever be on the table. Pelinka appears to be willing to wait to find out but I think he would need to get something done before training camp. A mid-season trade would mean the player coming in would need time to settle in and that’s not ideal for next season.