The 2018 NBA Draft is expected to feature plenty of fireworks, but before we can get to any blockbuster deals on draft night, someone had to break the ice.
The Lakers and Sixers were kind enough to do so in the form of a trade involving second-round picks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, as the Lakers acquired the 39th overall pick from Philadelphia for a future second and cash.
The Lakers have acquired the 39th pick in Thursday’s Draft from the 76ers, league source tells ESPN. Lakers will send Philly its 2019 second round pick via Bulls and cash.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2018
It’s not a major trade, nor a surprising one, given that the Sixers were set to enter Thursday night’s draft with four second-round picks. With a roster that is much more set than it has been entering previous drafts, they were going to have to unload some of those, and on Wednesday night they began that process.
The Lakers, however, could stand to bring in more bodies as they will have to fill out a short-staffed roster no matter what happens this summer with their free agency hopes. The 39th overall pick still provides value, and that player will likely have a solid chance at making this Lakers roster. L.A.’s own second-round selection is in the hands of Brooklyn this year, so now the Lakers will have at least two choices in the draft.
It’s not exactly a huge splash, but more of dipping a toe in the water for draft trade season. Hopefully, this can open up the floodgates for a wild draft night.
