Los Angeles Lakers’ Struggles Could Send Top Prospect To New Orleans Pelicans

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Getty Image / Steve Marcus


This season just keeps getting worse for the Los Angeles Lakers. Last night, they lost at home against the Sacramento Kings, dropping their record to 2-10. That record moves them into a tie for the worst record in the NBA.

Usually when a team finds themselves in that position, it means it’s time to start planning for the future and hoping to get the first pick in the draft to rebuild their franchise. For the Lakers, that isn’t a possibility.

The Los Angeles Lakers currently own their first round pick in the next NBA draft, but that could change before they get the chance to make the pick. Thanks to the trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Lakers, the New Orleans Pelicans have the right to swap 1st round picks with the Lakers in 2023.

With the Pelicans currently holding down the 8th spot in the Western Conference, that swap seems to be a certainty.

According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, that makes the Pelicans the favorite to land Victor Wembanyama in next year’s draft.

New Orleans Pelicans are the current favorites to land Victor Wembanyama in the NBA Draft

The Anthony Davis trade may have gotten the Los Angeles Lakers a ring, but it is starting to look like it could be a steal for the Pelicans. They already got a star in Brandon Ingram. They got the 4th pick in the 2019 draft. They got the 8th pick in the latest draft. Now they could get the most promising prospect the NBA has seen in years.

The Pelicans are already an improving squad with a healthy Zion Williamson, Ingram, and CJ McCollum. Adding Wembanyama to their roster would make the Pelicans a franchise to watch in the West.

They have to be feeling pretty good about the decision to trade Davis right about now.