Lakers’ Ideal 2024 NBA Mock Draft and Players to Target in Draft-Day Trades

The 2024 NBA offseason isn’t off to the greatest start for the Los Angeles Lakers, but there are plenty of opportunities left to get this right.

Several of them will surface during the draft, where the Lakers hold two picks (Nos. 17 and 55) to spend themselves or trade away for more immediate assistance.

We’ll examine both scenarios here by first laying out an ideal (and realistic) draft haul for the franchise before spotlighting two players worth targeting in draft-day deals.

17. Tristan da Silva, SF/PF, Colorado

If the Lakers keep this pick, they’ll be looking for a specific kind of prospect. Namely, one capable of contributing right away, ideally offering shooting touch and flexibility on defense.

L.A. could check all of those boxes with da Silva, whom B/R’s Jonathan Wasserman cited as having “a high skill level (at 6’8″) and basketball IQ” plus the ability to “provide plug-and-play shotmaking and complementary, spot-up scoring.”

55. Bronny James, SG, USC

While James needs some seasoning, the chance of the Lakers finding anyone at this pick spot capable of contributing to a playoff run next season are slim to none. So, it’s probably best to keep this in the family and take LeBron James’ son in this spot, both for what he offers as a prospect (defense, shotmaking and basketball IQ) and for the message this selection would send to the elder James, who could exit in free agency this summer if he wanted.

“Rival teams sound uncertain about Bronny James’ chances of getting drafted, though the Los Angeles Lakers remain the popular guess as to his most likely destination,” Wasserman wrote. “If he’s still on the board deep into the second round, L.A.’s front office could feel pressure to select him, considering it’s essentially a risk-free pick that late, and passing at No. 55 would signal to LeBron how little the team thinks of Bronny.”

While the Lakers could try trading for a third star (a scenario we’ll explore next), they might seek out more depth instead.

Why not go back to a role player who filled a critical role for the franchise’s last title team?

Before emerging as an All-Defensive player and upping his offensive output in Chicago, Caruso was filling in all the cracks on the Lakers’ 2019-20 title team. His energy was infections, his defense was ferocious and his offensive contributions always felt timely.

He does plenty of things that can help a win-now team, and since the Bulls are having trouble winning, maybe they’d consider letting him go during the draft. Chicago’s rebuild feels overdue and inevitable, and maybe the promise of available prospects will be enough to convince the front office to finally shift its focus forward.

Until Donovan Mitchell puts pen to paper on a contract extension with the Cavaliers, he’ll be a popular player among trade-machine enthusiasts. If Cleveland can’t get that commitment, then it has to hit the trade market in order to avoid the risk he winds up leaving for nothing next summer.

The Lakers might make a Mitchell move worth the Cavaliers’ while. It would take all of L.A.’s assets—Austin Reaves, three first-round picks and more—but if the aim is to acquire a third star, Mitchell might be the best option on the market.

He is the premier perimeter talent this offense lacks. Two seasons back, he averaged a career-high 28.3 points. This time around, he “settled” for 26.6, while also posting a personal-best 6.1 assists.

He can initiate offense, space or cut off the ball, handle pick-and-rolls and break down defenders off the dribble for pull-up threes or aggressive basket attacks. He is the total offensive package, and at 27 years old, he is right in the heart of his prime.

If the Lakers could bring Mitchell to town and get his commitment on a new deal, they would not only have a shot at contending next season, they’d also have reasons to feel better about their post-LeBron chapter.