Lakers, Clippers probably aim for “best available” in NBA Draft
The most urgent need that the Lakers have is to find a young center that blocked the rims to be put together with Luka Doncic for the present and the future.
But the Lakers do not have a choice of the first round to be used in the draft of the NBA on Wednesday evening and when they make their choice in the second round at n. 55 of Thursday evening in the two -day event, that’s probably not there that they will find that type of talent.
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So, the Lakers will look for the proverbial “best player available” and try to develop it and most likely to play them for South Bay Lakers, their Gai League team.
The great news for the Lakers will be the state of Doncic’s contract, Lebron James, Austin Reaves and Dorian Finney-Smith.
The Clippers, on the other hand, have the last choice in the first round of the draft, at n. 30. They also have the 51st overall choice in the second round.
And they too will look for the best player available with those selections.
To find out more: NBA Draft has an international touch after American Flagg
With the draft of the draft that provides them with a rotation player, the Lakers will continue to build their team in other ways, from the free agency to commercial activities.
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James, 40, has a player option for the next season at $ 52.6 million and must make Lakers known his decision by June 29th. He can opt for his agreement with an extension or renunciation and sign a new contract.
James scored on average 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists and shot 51.3% from the field for the game last season, and was appointed in the second All-Nba team.
Doncic can sign an extension with the Lakers starting from August 2nd. He will earn $ 45.9 million next season and $ 48.9 million for the 2026-27 season if he exercises his option.
It can sign a four-year extension for $ 229 million, with the first year of $ 51 million that agreement that replaces its option as a player since 2026-27. Or Doncic could sign a three -year extension for $ 165 million and this would include a player option for the third season.
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Reaves has the right to sign an extension from his $ 13.9 million salary for the next season starting from 6 July. Reaves can sign a four -year agreement for $ 89.2 million.
Finney-Smith has a player option that will pay him $ 15.3 million, and he is also looking for an extension.
Lawrence Frank, the president of the basketball operations for the Clippers, spoke of the team’s needs in the draft in May.
Frank said the clippers could use some help for the frontcourt, a director and some shots.
Different simulated drafts of the NBA have the clippers who take noah penda at n. 30. He is a 6-foot striker-8 from France. Penda, 20 years old, played last season in Le Mans, where he scored 10.9 points and 6.1 rebounds on average.
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“In the draft, generally you always go for the best available, especially if he is a younger player,” Frank said to the media in May after the team had been eliminated from the first round of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets. “Because when that player hits his first, our team will be completely different … So, you are redeeming better available, but we have some features that we really give the priority.
“The positional dimensions are important for us. The basketball qi and the processing are important for us. The ability to pass, dribble and shoot is important for us. And then the DNA, the makeup, the tenacity, the competitiveness, the examples of where they are truly shown resilience, determination. Therefore, there are many things in it, but those typically kind in general on how we look at it.”
The veterans of Clippers James Harden, Nicolas Batum and Norman Powell also have contract decisions to be made.
Harden has a player option for $ 36.3 million and must inform the clipper of his decision by June 29th. The consent around the NBA is that Harden will give up and seek a two -year extension from the Clippers.
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Harden, 35, who scored 22.8 points, 8.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds on average, made the All-Star team and it was the third all-nba team.
Batum, the favorite of his teammates and coach of Clippers Tyronn Lue, has a player option for the next season who pays him $ 4.9 million and must let the team know by June 29 of his decision.
Powell, 32, has another year on his agreement that pays him $ 20.4 million next season. Powell, who marked an average of 21.8 career points per game, is probably looking for an extension.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.