Lakers 2024 NBA Mock Draft roundup after combine

The Los Angeles Lakers are at a crossroads ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft. The LeBron James and Anthony Davis Era is winding down, and the team has to decide what to do about the future. Do they go all in on trying to win a championship in the next two years? Or do they start making moves for the post-LeBron year? And what do they do about Bronny James? We’ll look at how draft experts are answering these questions in more in this Lakers 2024 post-combine NBA mock draft roundup.

The Lakers currently have two picks in the 2024 NBA Draft. The team picks at No. 17 after the New Orleans Pelicans decided to give LA this year’s first-round pick and take next year’s instead. That’s the pick we’ll (mostly) focus on here.

That said, we will discuss what these Lakers mock drafts have the franchise doing at No. 55 in the second round as well, as it is one of the most intriguing draft decisions in NBA history.

ClutchPoints, Brett Siegel: Isaiah Collier, PG, USC

“Isaiah Collier continues to drop down draft boards across the league due to concerns about his overall impact, especially on defense. While he is a very fast-paced player and has drawn some slight comparisons to Russell Westbrook at times … Collier and his natural scoring abilities at the point guard position would be valued on the Lakers’ bench.”

The Lakers are taking a guard from USC and, of course, it’s … Isaiah Collier?

Bronny James is the USC guard everyone is talking about, but the 6-foot-3, 205-pound, 19-year-old Collier actually makes more sense. The Lakers have tried to add Westbrook to the team before, and it didn’t work.

However, maybe adding Young Westbrook instead of Washed Westbrook is exactly what the Lakers need to add a little youth and vigor to their offense. And worst case, Collier can be De’Angelo Russell insurance and a valuable role player.

ESPN.com, Jonathan Givony, Jeremy Woo: Tristan Da Silva, F, Colorado

“[Tristan] Da Silva is a plug-and-play option at 23 years old who brings coveted defensive versatility, feel for the game and perimeter shooting, making 40% of his 3-point attempts this past season.”

There are several younger options with more potential, but the 23-year-old from Colorado via Munich, Germany is more of a win-now option that will help the Lakers make one more run at the title.

Da Silva can be a 6-foot-8 energy guy who hits threes from the corner, which is the type of player that most good teams have nowadays. While he may never become a star, he is among the most NBA-ready prospects in this draft and should make life easier on AD and LeBron from Day 1.

The Athletic, Sam Vecine: Kyle Filipowski, F/C, Duke

“[Kyle] Filipowski makes a ton of sense as a big man who can shoot and either pair well with Anthony Davis or serve as a third big. … Filipowski can shoot from the perimeter, attack heavy closeouts and bring the ball up the court in grab-and-go situations. His passing took a nice leap this past season.”

A modern-day 7-footer who can shoot, pass, roll, and do pretty much everything you want your big to do in the 2024 version of the NBA. Filipowski stayed in school an extra season, so he’s coming out as a little more polished 20-year-old, which is another reason a win-now Lakers team would like him.

The former Duke star profiles as a lottery pick on the offensive side, but even at 7 feet, he doesn’t offer a ton in the way of rim protection, which is a problem. That said, LA could be a perfect fit for Filipowski since Davis can handle that defensive aspect of the game.

USA Today, Bryan Kalbrosky: Ja’Kobe Walter, WING, Baylor

Meanwhile, the Lakers had a poor perimeter defense this season, per Cleaning the Glass, allowing opponents to shoot 38.1 percent on 3-pointers. One player who could provide some relief is Baylor’s Ja’Kobe Walter.

The Bix 12 Freshman of the Year is only 19, but the 6-foot-5 former Baylor Bear has shown some real 3-and-D potential, and as we know, any contender (but especially the Lakers) could use some starting caliber 3-and-D wings around James, Davis, and a point guard.

Ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft, Walter is a little heavier on the “D” than the “3” part of the equation. He only shot 34.1% from deep last season but he has a nice-looking stroke and should be able to get that percentage up. He did shut down his opponents, though, especially from behind the arc.

CBS Sports, Travis Branham: Bronny James, G, USC

“If the Lakers let Bronny remain available, they could be opening the door for any team, like the Suns, to snag what is anticipated to be a father-son package deal.”

This is the boldest take in this Lakers mock NBA draft roundup on what the franchise does about drafting Bronny James. What this suggests is that Rich Paul and LeBron James really are running the franchise, and the team has to make a desperate move to keep their superstar for another few seasons.

The truth is, though, that Bronny is an undersized off-guard at 6-foot-2 who has some skills but no real elite ones to make up for his lack of an NBA body. He could have used at least one more year of seasoning at USC but as the most famous son of an NBA legend not dating a teammate’s ex-wife, that doesn’t seem like it was an option.

If this prospect’s name was Bronny Smith, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.

Hoops Hype, Michael Scotto: Bronny James at No. 55

“According to Shams Charania, Bronny had 10 workout invites but is only considering the Lakers and Suns.”

Hoops Hype put together this consensus Lakers 2024 NBA mock draft, and they found that most experts Bronny James going at No. 55 in the second round to the Lakers. This makes a lot more sense than taking him with a premium pick at No. 17.

The real intrigue will come if the Lakers do wait on Bronny and another franchise starts getting some sneaky ideas.

While the consensus is that Bronny goes 55, Clutchpoints own Brett Siegel has him in the same city but wearing a different jersey. In our NBA insider’s mock draft, the USC guard goes No. 46 to the Clippers.

Elsewhere in the Lakers NBA mock draft universe, ESPN has Bronny No. 54 to the Boston Celtics, which would add yet another chapter to the most famous rivalry in the league.