NBA draft: Lakers’ 1st significant decision of JJ Redick era looms with 1st-round pick

EL SEGUNDO — As JJ Redick was formally introduced as the Lakers’ new head coach on Monday at the franchise’s practice facility, “player development” quickly became a phrase used by both Redick and General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka to describe their vision for the organization.

“When we embarked on this search, it was really important for us to see if we could do something a little bit different,” Pelinka said. “And quickly in our conversations with JJ, it was very evident that he had a unique perspective and philosophy on basketball and how it’s to be taught. When we sat down in Chicago at the [NBA draft] combine [in May], we shared a basketball philosophy that was very similar. And it was based on high-level strategy. It was based on a certain way of communicating with players and teaching them. And probably most importantly, prioritizing player development.

“This new (salary) cap system that we’re now under in NBA, there’s a hard system with a first and second apron. And I could get into all the details, but at the core of that is going to be the importance of a great franchise like the Lakers modernizing and leaning into developing our young players and building that.”

Pelinka added: “Part of the road to [being] a really good team, and you can look around the landscape of the league right now with many young teams playing really well, is going to be lean hard into that player development piece. And of course, part of that is, is drafting the right way. ”

So it’s only appropriate that the first significant decisions the Lakers will have to make since hiring Redick will be during the first round of the NBA draft on Wednesday night, with the second round taking place on Thursday after the league changed the draft’s format from one day to two days.

The Lakers enter the draft with the No. 17 pick in the first round and the No. 55 pick in the second round.

Most of the external dialogue surrounding the Lakers entering this week has been whether they’ll use any of the first-round draft picks at their disposal in a trade for a veteran player who could upgrade the roster; and whether they’ll draft USC guard Bronny James, the son of Lakers star LeBron James.

As of Wednesday, the Lakers can use up to three first-round picks (2024, 2029, 2031) in a trade for a significant star-level player or separate smaller deals.

After the Feb. 8 trade deadline, in which the Lakers didn’t make any deals, Pelinka cited the Lakers’ ability to use those three first-round picks this summer as a reason for not making a trade at the time.

“We’re gonna look for ways to upgrade our team there,” Pelinka said at the time. “But in terms of what was available at the trade deadline, we had one first-round draft pick. It was our only sort of hook to fish with. And this summer in June, we, at the time of the draft, we’ll have three first-round draft picks to look for deals, which I think will really unlock an access to potentially a greater or bigger swing. And we didn’t want to shoot a bullet now that would only lead to very marginal improvement at the expense of making a much bigger and more impactful movement potentially in June and July.”

But when asked on Monday about the Lakers’ draft plans, Pelinka mentioned the restrictions of the league’s new collective bargaining agreement as a reason why making a trade could be more challenging.

“In this system, some of the trades are more difficult, especially if you have a second apron team and a first apron team,” Pelinka said on Monday. “There’s a chance we’ll be in the first apron. The trades are less prevalent than they used to be. Will we look for trades that help us become a better team? Absolutely. Are those trades, did they have the same probability that they did under the old system? No, it is a different system. So we’ve got to be mindful and thoughtful around that.”

“We’ve had a great track record here of drafting good players and developing them. And we’re going to continue on that path as well. That’s not a yes or a no. If the perfect trade comes along, we can use picks to make it and win a championship, yeah, we’ll do it. Is that trade going to be there? I don’t know. It’s harder in this system to find perfect trades.”

If the Lakers do make a first-round selection and sign that draftee to a rookie-scale contract, USC guard Isaiah Collier, Duke guard Jared McCain, Colorado wing Tristan da Silva and Baylor wing Ja’Kobe Walter are a few prospects who could receive consideration.

As for Bronny, the 19-year-old guard could be available for the Lakers in the second round. He’s only had predraft workouts with a pair of teams – the Lakers and Phoenix Suns, who have the No. 22 pick – but has drawn interest from a handful of other teams. Bronny’s agent, Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul, told ESPN last week that the Minnesota Timberwolves (Nos. 27 and 37 picks), Dallas Mavericks (No. 58) and Toronto Raptors (Nos. 19 and 31 picks) also have interest in him.

LeBron previously expressed a desire to play with Bronny but said after the Lakers’ 2023-24 season-ending playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets on April 29 that he hasn’t “given it much thought lately.”

LeBron added: “Obviously I’ve thought about it in the past but at the end of the day, the kid has to do what he wants to do.”

Paul told ESPN that LeBron, who could become a free agent if he opts out of his $51.4 million player option with the Lakers for the 2024-25 season, is “off this idea of having to play with Bronny. If he does, he does. But if he doesn’t, he doesn’t.”