The Los Angeles Lakers have a second round pick once again and without a trade heading into the draft, the team will be looking at a range of solid, but not stellar players to add to the roster, including names like DeShaun Thomas, James Southerland and Archie Goodwin.
According to ESPN.com, the Lakers are going to at least try to make a deal to get into the first round, but they have no problems sitting tight and waiting for their pick at number 48. The team is without a first round pick again after making previous deals and while there isn't too much talent deep in the draft, other teams have been lucky, including the Spurs with Manu Ginobili and the Lakers will be hoping for something similar.
The team is heading into next season without knowing if they will have Dwight Howard and so far all signs point to him not signing with the team long term. The Lakers haven't had too much luck in the draft at all and now they have the chance to try and add someone like a Mario Chalmers, who starred for the Heat after being taken early in the second. The Lakers need to get younger at many positions and they need to get some younger talent on the roster to develop for whenever Kobe Bryant is done with his career.
Some of the top options include Trevor Mbakwe, Archie Goodwin as well as Erik Murphy from Florida, who is considered to be one of the best shooters in the draft even though he is projected into the second round. Goodwin could be an interesting pick since he is so young after playing one season with Kentucky, but those factors may also work against him with maturity and a big market like LA.
DeShaun Thomas is another likely pick out of Ohio State and he knows now to play under pressure and his scoring could be an asset for the Lakers. He can shoot from long range and while he may have trouble finding a position, the Lakers could use a player like him. Southerland is a fantastic shooter and that would be his value in the NBA.
