The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly rejected down many trade offers before selecting Jalen Hood-Schifino from Indiana University in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft.
According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, Rob Pelinka appeared to imply that the franchise was unable to locate a suitable trade for the No. 17 overall choice.
“After fielding calls and weighing potential trade offers with multiple teams, they ultimately valued the opportunity to select the guard out of Indiana University, who they had expected to go earlier in the draft,” Buha wrote. “He is their highest pick since No. 2 overall pick Lonzo Ball in 2017.”
“Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka cryptically hinted that the team wasn’t able to find a deal it liked when he addressed the media afterward.”
Pelinka seemed pleased with the way the draft turned out for the Lakers, and he believes it found some value in taking Hood-Schifino at No. 17.
“I think the end goal, and we talk about it all the time, is for us to put a championship-level product on the court,” Pelinka said. “… Sometimes you can’t make all of your movements at once. But we’re very pleased with how the draft turned out. It was only the value we were able to obtain with the two guys. We’ll keep an eye on how we fill out the remainder of the roster — or any other moves that occur during free agency.”
The Lakers are in an interesting position, having reached the Western Conference Finals last season after making a flurry of trade deadline moves to improve the club.
With LeBron James aging, the Lakers’ window to contend for a championship may be dwindling, especially since James is only under contract for the 2023-24 season before his player option in the 2024-25 campaign.
The team still has several avenues to improve through free agency, whether it is by adding a new player by signing them, working a sign-and-trade or moving a player currently on the roster in a straight-up trade.
It makes sense that teams were interested in the No. 17 selection, but the Lakers clearly felt that taking Hood-Schifino was the best move for them. By doing that, Los Angeles could be getting a player that can help it beyond just the 2023-24 season
In his lone season with the Hoosiers, Hood-Schifino earned the Big Ten Rookie of the Year, averaging 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 41.7 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.
With Austin Reaves (restricted), Dennis Schroder (unrestricted), D’Angelo Russell (unrestricted), and Lonnie Walker IV (unrestricted) all poised to become free agents this offseason, the Lakers could use some guard depth.
If the Lakers are unable to keep all of those guys, Hood-Schifino should have a good shot to push for a rotation role straight immediately.
Los Angeles appears to be starting the summer slowly in order to maximize James’ championship window.
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