The Lakers will reportedly be on the clock with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
It’s no surprise that the Pelicans decided to postpone the first-round pick they acquired from Los Angeles until 2025. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday. New Orleans has until 11:59 pm ET on Saturday, June 1 to make that decision official with the league office.
The Pelicans received the Lakers’ 2024 first-round pick in the blockbuster 2019 trade that sent All-Star forward Anthony Davis to Los Angeles. In return, New Orleans got Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, three first-round picks and a pick swap (that never happened).
The unprotected 2024 first-round pick is the last of the three and came with a deferral option. Why did the Pelicans decide to delay the pick until 2025 and what does that mean for the Lakers? The Jugo Mobile breaks it down below.
Pelicans-Lakers draft pick postponement, explained
When the Pelicans sent Davis to the Lakers in 2019, they nearly cleared the bench of future Los Angeles first-round picks.
The Lakers’ 2024 first-round pick was the last of the group, but came with a deferral option for 2025. With the Lakers locked into the No. 17 overall pick for 2024 and a weak NBA Draft class, the deferral It gives New Orleans a chance to try its luck with a more talented class in 2025.
The Pelicans reportedly exercised that option on Friday, allowing the Lakers to retain their 2024 first-round pick while losing their 2025 first-round pick to New Orleans.
Will the Lakers use the 17th pick on Bronny James?
The answer is probably (but not certain) no.
Bronny James, son of Lakers star LeBron James, has helped his draft team since finishing his up-and-down freshman year at USC.
The 19-year-old measured and tested well in front of NBA scouts, executives and decision makers at the NBA Draft Combine. He also had a good performance in one of the practice games, and then took advantage of that to a lights out shooting performance during the Klutch Sports Pro Day at the Lakers’ practice facility.
But even with his value rising, it would still be a reach for Los Angeles to take Bronny at No. 17.
There have been reports that the Suns are considering LeBron’s son at No. 22. If that’s the case, the Lakers would face the difficult decision of keeping their franchise player, who has a player option to potentially become a free agent, happy. Without restrictions. or do what is best for the organization.
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Considering LeBron and Bronny share the same agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, the Lakers will have all the information they need on whether Phoenix is actually considering taking the rookie point guard in the first round.
If the Suns don’t plan to sign Bronny, Los Angeles could try to move back from No. 17 to a more suitable spot to select LeBron’s oldest son.
But New Orleans’ decision to postpone the pick shouldn’t have taken anyone in the Lakers organization by surprise. This announcement will likely continue as usual as Los Angeles evaluates its strategy for the 2024 NBA Draft.
Lakers’ 2024 NBA Draft Picks
The Lakers have two picks in the 2024 NBA Draft, one in the first round and one in the second round.
Lakers 2024 NBA Draft Picks:
- No. 17 overall
- No. 55 overall
In my post-lottery NBA Mock Draft, Los Angeles selected Colorado senior forward Tristan da Silva with the 17th pick and Bronny with the 55th pick.
Given Bronny’s rise since his NBA Draft Combine and Pro Day workouts, the Lakers may need to move up from No. 55 if they want to draft LeBron’s son.
