The Los Angeles Lakers surprised a lot of people when they traded into the second round of the NBA draft this year. After picking Cameron Carr at No. 24, they were believed to be done until they acquired the No. 56 pick from the Bulls.
In the hours leading up to the second round, Lakers fans dreamed of who the team might pick up, but the reality was much more disappointing. When it was their turn, the Lakers selected Vsevolod Ischenko, only to immediately send him packing to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for cash considerations.
This marks the first Lakers-Mavericks trade since the infamous Luka Doncic deal. Unlike that trade, however, this one is unlikely to have a major impact on either team. The only regrettable thing for the Lakers is that Ischenko actually makes an ideal fit for their roster, which desperately needs shooting. The athletic Russian wing, who averaged 8.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game on 50.6% shooting from the field this season, has a 7’0″ wingspan with two-way versatility and a reliable shooting stroke.
Nevertheless, despite trading into the second round, the Lakers opted not to keep the pick, a clear sign that their initial plans fell through. While we may never know for sure who they wanted to draft in the second round, the latest whispers suggest that Henri Veesaar was their primary target, and it makes a lot of sense.
As a 7’0″ big man who can play both ends of the floor, he’s exactly what the Lakers have been looking for in a center. Last season, in 31 games, he averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game on 60.8% shooting and 42.6% shooting from three for North Carolina. He was projected to go early in the second round, but Lakers fans were hopeful when he dropped below the top 40.
As it turns out, however, Veesaar’s agent did not want him to go to the Lakers. For reasons that are currently unclear, he steered his client toward the Atlanta Hawks, who traded up to get him with the 52nd pick, just four spots above the Lakers.
“Veesaar’s agent was guiding him to the Hawks, who had been working to trade up and add him in front of teams like the Knicks and Lakers. They did not want him in LA,” reported Brett Siegel.
With the Lakers’ plans essentially ruined, they didn’t have any alternative options they felt good about. So, rather than waste a roster spot on a rookie they were unsure about, GM Rob Pelinka tapped out entirely, ending the night without a single addition outside of extra cash.
It’s obviously a bad look for the Lakers to be rejected in such fashion, but they won’t get too emotional over missing out on a second-round prospect. They still have Cameron Carr, Austin Reaves, and a superstar in Luka Doncic that can carry them to glory next season. Plus, with the whole of free agency yet to take place, the Lakers still have plenty of time to keep their promise to Luka and fill out the roster with a cast that’s worthy of his game.
