Numerous decisions of The Angels Lakers haven’t been the best at trades or free agents, but there’s one thing the Lakers can definitely do – identify talent late in the draft. We look back on some steals by the Californians and they were plenty, although they often didn’t last long.
As a starting point we take the year 2014. It is the time when the Lakers were no longer the Contender of previous years and the career of Kobe Bryant was on the wane. Since then, the Lakers have made good drafting decisions year after year. Lottery tips are not taken into account, even if LA also did at least solid here and drew three later All-Stars. For completeness:
- Julius Randle (7. Pick 2014)
- D’Angelo Russell (2. Pick 2015)
- Brandon Ingram (2. Pick 2016)
- Lonzo Ball (2nd Choice 2017)
But now to the real draft steals by the Lakers in recent years!
JORDAN CLARKSON
Draft: 2014 | Choose: 46
A bona fide scorer who’s becoming one of the league’s best sixth-rounders in Utah. Clarkson initially spent some time in the D-League but then became a starter after himself Kobe Bryant suffered a rupture in his shoulder. At the end of the season, Clarkson was voted to the All-Rookie First Team, up from only four other second-round picks in 30 years.
In 2016, the Lakers signed Clarkson to a four-year, $50 million contract before being traded to Cleveland in 2018. For LeBron James, he was in his last Cavs-year but not much help. Now a constant in Utah, he’s amassed over $100 million over his career.
LARRY NANCE JR
Draft: 2015 | Choose: 27
Like Clarkson, Nance also went to Cleveland in 2018, but the forward did much better there. The son of famous Suns star Larry Nance Sr.
It’s a bit of the history of his career. Nance has never played more than 67 games in a season. However, he is currently an important part of the rotation for the Pelicans. New Orleans puts the bald 30-year-old as a small-ballCenter one that mostly finishes the games.
DAVID NWABA
Draft: 2016 | Choose: undrafted
237 games since 2016 looks a bit thin, but Nwaba probably had the skills to be a solid rotary player over the long term. The native Californian fought his way into the squad in LA via ten-day contracts
The throw was always a problem, but he defended passionately. Even Contender Brooklyn later brought him into the team, but after a torn Achilles tendon he was no longer the same. The Thunder immediately released Nwaba after a trade from Houston, since then without a team.
EDGE TOOTH
Draft: 2016 | Choose: 32
It’s hard to imagine, but today’s ClippersCenter Zubac started his career in the other dressing room at the former Staples Center. The Croatian probably hinted at his talent, but the Lakers front office misjudged it.
To the Trade Deadline Zubac became the in a cloak and dagger action together with Michael Beasley for Mike Muscala (!). Clippers the goat row. Clippers agent Jerry West reportedly laughed, upon learning of the terms of the deal. Today, Zubac is a solid starter, one of the most consistent clippers in years and recently missed a rare 30-30 game.
Thomas Bryant
Draft: 2017 | Choose: 42
Another example of how the Lakers are shaping NBA players through their G-League team. Bryant spent his entire rookie season at South Bay, but the Lakers fired him Center after playtime. In Washington, on the other hand, Bryant immediately became a starter and led to a good offensive center.
He has since returned to the Lakers after a serious knee injury put an end to his career. However, the 25-year-old does not get much playing time.
ALEX CARUSO
Draft: 2016 | Choose: undrafted
What a career! He didn’t want a team in 2016, after which the “Bald Mamba” played an unremarkable season in the G-League before the Lakers took notice of him. There the guard recommended himself and came again and again to shorter missions. The breakthrough for the balding man came in early 2019 when he shone alongside LeBron James. The “Carushow” was born.
Caruso also played an important role in the 2020 title, and a year later the Lakers gave up the strong defensive guard for important reasons, although he really wanted to stay. So Caruso now plays the Duracel bunny with the Chicago Bulls and is very popular there too.
KYLE KUZMA
Draft: 2017 | Choose: 27
Another steal that was part of the 2020 championship squad. Kuzma came on as a pure scorer, but over the years he’s also settled into a reliable defender on the wing. Before the title like the scapegoat of the fans, but it is now clear how much Kuzma in The Angels missing.
Since the Forward 2021 was part of the Russell-Westbrook trade, the Lakers are still looking for a solution for the wing alongside LeBron and Anthony Davis, and they have not found an answer to this day. And Kuzma? He’s having a really good season in Washington and should get a nice payday in the summer.
JOSH HART
Draft: 2017 | Choose: 30
Hart was very popular in LA. The guard is still one of the best rebounders for his position and can be a very unpleasant opponent. Hustle, hustle and hustle were the best attributes, but that wouldn’t do the 27-year-old justice.
New Orleans really wanted Hart when Davis was traded to LA, they have no regrets. Hart has since moved on to Portland, where he also acts as a secondary playmaker, relieving the stars in the backcourt.
MORITZ WAGNER
Draft: 2018 | Choose: 25
The Berliner wasn’t a bad choice either and is said to have developed in Orlando. His defensive shortcomings were well known, but up front Wagner may have an interesting throwing and playmaking skillset that at least serves a niche.
Wagner made 43 games for the Lakers before he too had to leave in the wake of Anthony Davis’ trade. Via Washington and Boston, the forward has found a home for the moment at the Magic and is currently the starter for the injured Wendell Carter Jr. there.
TALEN HORTON-TUCKER
Draft: 2019 | Choose: 46
THT was the youngest player in the draft in 2019, so it took a little time to catch up. In year two he established himself in the Lakers rotation and knew how to please with powerful drives. What is still missing: THT is not efficient, but needs the ball in his hands.
That doesn’t sit well with LeBron, so it came as no surprise that the Lakers traded Horton-Tucker to Utah over the summer — even though he was branded “untouchable” the year before. In Salt Lake City, his playing time has continued to decline. THT will need to step up if he wants to stay in the NBA.
Austin Reaves
Draft: 2021 | Choose: undrafted
After Bald Mamba came Hillbilly Kobe – Reaves, like Caruso, knows how to play alongside the Stars and keeps the ball rolling with smart decisions. The boy from Newark, Arkansas, with a population of 1,000, has won the hearts of the fans and also enjoys the trust of head coach Darvin Ham.
In his rookie season, Reaves even expects a triple-double on and became a meme at a party in Brooklyn, when he seemed completely perplexed as LeBron explained something to him on the field. Interesting from a German point of view: Thanks to his German grandmother, Reaves now has a German passport.