Lakers Face Familiar Dilemma: Is Another First-Round Pick the Price of Staying Competitive?
The Los Angeles Lakers have never been shy about pushing their chips to the center of the table. Under Rob Pelinka, the front office has consistently prioritized proven talent over long-term draft capital - and at times, it’s paid off in a big way. The trades for Anthony Davis and Luka Doncic are the crown jewels of that strategy, each delivering high-end talent capable of shifting the balance of power in the Western Conference.
But not every swing has connected like those two. The Lakers have also burned through first-round picks chasing players like D’Angelo Russell, Dennis Schröder, and Russell Westbrook. All three were brought in with hopes of elevating the team, and none lasted two full seasons in purple and gold.
Now, with the 2026 trade deadline approaching, the Lakers find themselves in a familiar spot: short on draft capital, thin on internal development, and needing help - this time, on the defensive perimeter.
Perimeter Defense at a Premium - and So Are Picks
The Lakers’ current roster has clear defensive gaps on the perimeter, and names like Keon Ellis and Herbert Jones have surfaced as potential solutions. Both would bring much-needed defensive versatility and energy to a team that’s struggled to contain elite wings and guards.
But there’s a catch - and it’s a familiar one. According to recent reports, the New Orleans Pelicans have set a steep asking price for Jones, one the Lakers simply can’t meet.
Ellis, meanwhile, would reportedly cost a protected first-round pick. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team already running low on draft assets.
It’s not that the Lakers haven’t gotten value from their aggressive approach. A championship and a Western Conference Finals appearance are strong returns.
But the bill is coming due. Years of short-term moves have left the Lakers with limited flexibility, both in terms of draft capital and young talent.
The Draft Cupboard Is Bare - and It’s Hurting
Right now, Bronny James, Dalton Knecht, and Adou Thiero are the only drafted players on the Lakers' roster - and none are regulars in the rotation. That’s a telling sign of how little the team has invested in long-term development.
Even more concerning: the Lakers don’t hold a single second-round pick between 2026 and 2031. That’s not just a gap - it’s a canyon.
The team is also already down its 2027 and 2029 first-rounders, leaving only its 2030 through 2032 picks as potential trade assets. With such limited ammunition, even pulling off a mid-tier move like the one that brought Dorian Finney-Smith to L.A. last season becomes a challenge.
The lack of draft capital doesn’t just limit the Lakers’ ability to trade - it limits their ability to grow from within. That’s a key difference between the Lakers and some of today’s more sustainable contenders, who’ve used the draft to build depth, keep costs down, and develop rotation players who can grow into bigger roles.
Betting on Vets Comes with Risks
The Lakers have leaned heavily on veteran minimum deals to fill out the roster around their stars. It’s a strategy that can work - Marcus Smart has been a bright spot this season - but it also comes with risk.
Players available at the minimum are often dealing with injury history, age, or inconsistent production. Betting on them to outperform expectations is a gamble, and it doesn’t always pay off.
Drafting and developing a player, on the other hand, gives a team cost control, upside, and the chance to mold someone into a system fit. But that approach requires patience - something the Lakers haven’t had the luxury of in recent years.
With Luka Doncic approaching his prime years, the pressure is on to win now. The Lakers can’t afford to wait for a 21-year-old to develop into a contributor. That urgency could push the front office toward another trade - and possibly another first-round pick out the door.
Same Story, New Deadline
As the trade deadline looms, the Lakers are once again staring down the familiar question: Is the short-term boost worth the long-term cost?
A 2031 first-rounder might feel distant enough to justify moving, especially if it brings back a player who can help the Lakers make a deep playoff run. But every pick that goes out the door further limits the team’s ability to build sustainably - and to pivot if things go sideways.
Los Angeles has made its name on bold moves and big bets. But with limited options and a tightening window around Doncic, the next move has to be the right one. Because for all the success they’ve had chasing stars, the Lakers are still searching for balance - and they’re running out of picks to find it.