The Lakers averted potential disaster when they landed the second pick in last night’s NBA Draft Lottery. Now they have to decide whether to keep the pick or trade it.
Today in The Herd, Colin doubled down on his previous statements that the Lakers should trade the pick. He thinks the Lakers can’t afford to completely rebuild for another year after winning 38 games over the last two.
“This whole building thing is so cute, it’s neat. That’s what you do in Minneapolis.”
Depending on who the 76’ers take with the first pick, either LSU’s Ben Simmons or Duke’s Brandon Ingram will be available for the Lakers. Colin doesn’t think Ingram or Simmons can have an immediate impact in the loaded Western Conference.
“Damian Lillard is not an All Star. He would be the best pure point guard in the East.”
Colin observed that the Clippers with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and a respectable bench are an afterthought in the West.
The Lakers second pick could be a hot commodity for Eastern Conference teams. Colin thinks Simmons or Ingram can immediately help take a middle of the pack team, like Boston, deep into the Playoffs.
“Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram, and the Lakers get one of them, can have an impact in the East. You can reboot your franchise, you can sell tickets, they both played collegiality in the East. Brandon Ingram and Simmons in the West are irrelevant.”
As prospects, Both Simmons and Ingram are undeniably talented, but have major question marks. Ben Simmons is a potential superstar that can’t shoot. Brandon Ingram is an elite shooter, but he’s rail thin and needs 3 or 4 years to physically develop.
When Fox Sports 1 newcomer Nick Wright joined Colin today, he referred to Brandon Ingram as, “A Homeless man’s Kevin Durant.”
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