Did drafting Hart and Kuzma save the Lakers?

[KrAzY3]

I think sometimes people like to bash the value of first round picks, but a lot of times that comes down to GMs that really don't use them wisely. In 2017 the Lakers did a pretty good job with their three picks and to me it set them up for the future.

There's the Lonzo Ball pick that we can second guess considering how good Tatum turned out, but considering Ball was a key piece in landing AD I think it's hard to complain too much about that.

I think they really saved themselves with the late first round picks that year though. They were a mess, I don't think there was really a light at the end of the tunnel, but a couple picks that were usually of little value turned out quite well.

First there was Kuzma at 27, who started turning heads right away. Career average at that position is 15 minutes per game. Kuzma jumps right in and he's getting 30, and looking like a solid offensive threat.

Then you have Hart at 30. He'd be expected to play 14 minutes per game. As a rookie he goes out and plays 23 minutes and shows some potential as well.

So, you're expecting 29 minutes per game (not even that much as rookies), you get 53. Of course that might be a bit inflated due to Lakers sucking, but one advantage of rebuilding is you can showcase your assets.

The first thing is this makes the Lakers a bit more attractive to LeBron. If they struck out on those picks, they'd have had less talent to build around. So, does LeBron even go to LA if those two picks are busts?

Beyond that though, if those two picks are busts do they land AD? Obviously the Lakers managed to keep Kuzma, but if they had neither I wonder how hard it would have been to pull off the AD trade.

Anyway, just thinking out loud but to me that was really the point that the Lakers pulled out of their nosedive.

[grindtime22]

Watch on YouTube

[heezyo2o]

Some young pieces with upside helped the lakers sign lebron to a rebuild, but Hart and Kuzma were not the keys. Ingram and Lonzo were still the key pieces of that young core.

And if Kuzma didn't work out, then Lakers may have kept Randle who walked for nothing. Also didn't get much return or anything for Dlo. Yes the Dlo trade helped shed the Mozgov contract, but Lakers could have found another way to get rid of that contract. The Nets didn't have a hard time getting rid of Mozgov and didn't have to include a top pick like D'angelo Russell either

[Bornstellar]

No. LeBron James signing there and Anthony Davis forcing a trade there saved the Lakers

[Dr Aki]

jordan clarkson
larry nance jr
ivica zubac
kyle kuzma
josh hart
thomas bryant
alex caruso
mo wagner
isaac bonga
svi mykhailiuk
talen horton-tucker

not a fluke

[hoosierdaddy34]

jordan clarkson
larry nance jr
ivica zubac
kyle kuzma
josh hart
thomas bryant
alex caruso
mo wagner
isaac bonga
svi mykhailiuk
talen horton-tucker

not a fluke

It’s pretty damn impressive to have that many recent draftees, all selected #25 or later, not only in the league but most being part of team rotations.

[baldur]

we are really good at drafting at late 1st and second round. but when it comes to lottery ones as in ball, d'angelo russell and ingram, we weren't as good.

[zimpy27]

jordan clarkson
larry nance jr
ivica zubac
kyle kuzma
josh hart
thomas bryant
alex caruso
mo wagner
isaac bonga
svi mykhailiuk
talen horton-tucker

not a fluke

Possibly the best scouts in the league, maybe Raptors, Heat and Nuggets are up there too.

[basketballwacko2]

jordan clarkson
larry nance jr
ivica zubac
kyle kuzma
josh hart
thomas bryant
alex caruso
mo wagner
isaac bonga
svi mykhailiuk
talen horton-tucker

not a fluke

One thing that most of those guys have in common? They aren't lakers anymore.

[lonzo_pelota]

Im gonna tell u another key to landing AD, we sat all our talented remaining players & then the lakers brought in a GleagueLegend/ringer to deflect the blantant tank and ultimately we lucked out & got the #4 pick in the lottery.

[JB2]

jordan clarkson
larry nance jr
ivica zubac
kyle kuzma
josh hart
thomas bryant
alex caruso
mo wagner
isaac bonga
svi mykhailiuk
talen horton-tucker

not a fluke

One thing that most of those guys have in common? They aren't lakers anymore.

And yet still solid (at minimum) NBA players

AC wasn't a Laker pick though

[One Last Shot]

I think sometimes people like to bash the value of first round picks, but a lot of times that comes down to GMs that really don't use them wisely. In 2017 the Lakers did a pretty good job with their three picks and to me it set them up for the future.

There's the Lonzo Ball pick that we can second guess considering how good Tatum turned out, but considering Ball was a key piece in landing AD I think it's hard to complain too much about that.

I think they really saved themselves with the late first round picks that year though. They were a mess, I don't think there was really a light at the end of the tunnel, but a couple picks that were usually of little value turned out quite well.

First there was Kuzma at 27, who started turning heads right away. Career average at that position is 15 minutes per game. Kuzma jumps right in and he's getting 30, and looking like a solid offensive threat.

Then you have Hart at 30. He'd be expected to play 14 minutes per game. As a rookie he goes out and plays 23 minutes and shows some potential as well.

So, you're expecting 29 minutes per game (not even that much as rookies), you get 53. Of course that might be a bit inflated due to Lakers sucking, but one advantage of rebuilding is you can showcase your assets.

The first thing is this makes the Lakers a bit more attractive to LeBron. If they struck out on those picks, they'd have had less talent to build around. So, does LeBron even go to LA if those two picks are busts?

Beyond that though, if those two picks are busts do they land AD? Obviously the Lakers managed to keep Kuzma, but if they had neither I wonder how hard it would have been to pull off the AD trade.

Anyway, just thinking out loud but to me that was really the point that the Lakers pulled out of their nosedive.

What? LeBron is the one who saved the Lakers. that set the motion of AD wanting to play in LA and Bron didnt go to Lakers to play with Jason and Kuzma, Hart is just a filler in Anthony Davis Trade and I'm sure Pelicans will still trade AD to Lakers with or without Jason Hart and they did it anyway without including Kuzma so regardless whoever they drafted in 27th and 30th Pick in that draft, LeBron will still play for Lakers which is the main reason they are the defending champs.

[AlexanderRight]

Bench players like Kuzma and Hart didn’t save the Lakers. Being in LA saved the Lakers. Doesn’t make a difference who’s on the roster, stars will always wanna go there. Their rebuild was a joke. Their market will always bail them out from actually building from the ground up like most other teams have to.

[Dr Aki]

jordan clarkson
larry nance jr
ivica zubac
kyle kuzma
josh hart
thomas bryant
alex caruso
mo wagner
isaac bonga
svi mykhailiuk
talen horton-tucker

not a fluke

One thing that most of those guys have in common? They aren't lakers anymore.

And yet still solid (at minimum) NBA players

AC wasn't a Laker pick though

he was nobody's pick, but the lakers still picked him up off the rubbish heap after OKC let him go

[heezyo2o]

If I remember correctly, a lot of those late draft picks should be credited in part to Jesse Buss

[giberish]

They certainly helped, but it's a reach to say they saved the Lakers.

Would NO have made the Davis deal if Hart was a cheap bust as opposed to a cheap useful rotation player? I'd assume yes as there really weren't other teams bidding, and #4/Ingram/Ball were the main pieces.

Keeping Kuzma helped in having a cheap rotation player for depth. Compared to having a complete non-factor in that spot certainly helped the Lakers last season. Tough to say he made the difference for winning a title though.

[dans1230]

Bench players like Kuzma and Hart didn’t save the Lakers. Being in LA saved the Lakers. Doesn’t make a difference who’s on the roster, stars will always wanna go there. Their rebuild was a joke. Their market will always bail them out from actually building from the ground up like most other teams have to.

This is all true. If Lebron doesnt choose to go there, then AD doesnt demand a trade there. If the LA market is the same as the Memphis market then your trying to build a contender internally. They would be hoping to build a contender out of their lottery picks (Ingram, Ball, and Russell).
That doesnt take away from the fact that they have been effective in late 1st and 2nd round picks. Kuzma and Hart were great value at their respective draft spots.

[yitur]

jordan clarkson
larry nance jr
ivica zubac
kyle kuzma
josh hart
thomas bryant
alex caruso
mo wagner
isaac bonga
svi mykhailiuk
talen horton-tucker

not a fluke

Possibly the best scouts in the league, maybe Raptors, Heat and Nuggets are up there too.

There was a OC in reddit that compared drafted players against their drafting spot. Those 4 teams were top 4 iirc.

[Lawyershawn]

The answer is no.

What even is this question?

[haosmoove]

I think sometimes people like to bash the value of first round picks, but a lot of times that comes down to GMs that really don't use them wisely. In 2017 the Lakers did a pretty good job with their three picks and to me it set them up for the future.

There's the Lonzo Ball pick that we can second guess considering how good Tatum turned out, but considering Ball was a key piece in landing AD I think it's hard to complain too much about that.

I think they really saved themselves with the late first round picks that year though. They were a mess, I don't think there was really a light at the end of the tunnel, but a couple picks that were usually of little value turned out quite well.

First there was Kuzma at 27, who started turning heads right away. Career average at that position is 15 minutes per game. Kuzma jumps right in and he's getting 30, and looking like a solid offensive threat.

Then you have Hart at 30. He'd be expected to play 14 minutes per game. As a rookie he goes out and plays 23 minutes and shows some potential as well.

So, you're expecting 29 minutes per game (not even that much as rookies), you get 53. Of course that might be a bit inflated due to Lakers sucking, but one advantage of rebuilding is you can showcase your assets.

The first thing is this makes the Lakers a bit more attractive to LeBron. If they struck out on those picks, they'd have had less talent to build around. So, does LeBron even go to LA if those two picks are busts?

Beyond that though, if those two picks are busts do they land AD? Obviously the Lakers managed to keep Kuzma, but if they had neither I wonder how hard it would have been to pull off the AD trade.

Anyway, just thinking out loud but to me that was really the point that the Lakers pulled out of their nosedive.

They would have been better off not trading DLo for the 27th pick.