The Los Angeles Lakers are entering a very important summer for the franchise, as Kobe Bryant is coming back from an injury and Dwight Howard may end up leaving the team after becoming a free agent in July and that has forced the franchise to look at the draft in a different way.
The team doesn't have a first round pick and doesn't pick until the 48th pick overall and that could mean that the Lakers will try and trade into the first round to get themselves some younger talent. The team has some pieces that it could move, but it's not clear year what Mitch Kupchak will do, as he won't be totally sure what Dwight Howard will do once the draft rolls around. The team wants to keep Howard and Bryant said he would like the last word with him before he decided to sign, but depending on what he says, the team could try and move up.
Some of the best options for the team to move up is with the Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns, as both have multiple first round picks and may be looking to deal one of them. The Lakers chips include Pau Gasol, Steve Nash and Metta World Peace and since the Hawks may lose Josh Smith, this could be an option they like. The team has the number 17 and 18 picks overall in the first round and a trade of one of those picks could add a solid veteran to a team that will need some experience. The Lakers have needs at multiple positions and depending on what they feel for Howard, it will inform their options.
The Lakers have been without a first round pick since 2009 when they traded Toney Douglas to the Knicks for a second round pick and the team has basically dealt all their picks for years, including in the Nash trade this past year. Gasol gets mentioned all the time in trade talk and this time it could turn out to be a real one. The last time the team kept it they won two championships after as Jordan Farmar was the pick and now they will see if they can snag another one.
The Timberwolves at nine could also be an option, as are the Washington Wizards and the Charlotte Bobcats. The biggest issue is Howard and since the Lakers didn't have a great season and got swept in the playoffs and he didn't get along with the head coach, that could mean he is gone after the season and the Lakers will need that pick even more. Howard is looking at a number of teams, including the Rockets, Warriors, Mavericks and Hawks.