Lakers, Clippers aiming for ‘best available’ in NBA draft

The most urgent need that Lakers have is to find a young rim and shots blocking center to put Luka Donnic for the present and the future next to it.

But the Lakers have no choice of first round to use in the draft of the NBA on Wednesday evening, and when they choose in the second round on n ° 55 Thursday evening in the two -day event, it is probably not where they will find this kind of talent.

Thus, the Lakers will seek the “best available player” proverbial and will seek to develop it and make it most likely to play for the South Bay Lakers, their G League team.

The big news of the Lakers will be the status of contract of Doncic, 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 these selections.

With the few about the draft providing them with a rotation player, the Lakers will continue to constitute their team in other ways, from the free agency to the trades.

James, 40, has a player option for next season at 52.6 million dollars and he has to share the Lakers his decision by June 29. He can admire his agreement with an extension or an opt-out and sign a new contract.

James collected an average of 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists and pulled 51.3% of the field per game last season, and he was appointed to the second All-NBA team.

Doncouic can sign an extension with the Lakers from August 2. 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 in this agreement replacing its 2026-2027 player option. Or Dononic could sign a three -year extension for $ 165 million, and this would include a player option for the third season.

Reaves is eligible to sign an extension of his salary of $ 13.9 million for next season from July 6. Reaves can sign a four -year contract 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 basketball operations for the Clippers, spoke in May about the needs of the team in the draft.

Frank said the Clippers could use a front area help, a playmaker and a shot.

Several simulated NBA projects have the clippers who take Noah Penda at No. 30. He is a 6 -feet 8 -inch attacker. Penda, 20, played last season last season, where he has an average of 10.9 points and 6.1 rebounds.

“In the draft, you generally opt for the best available, especially if it is a younger player,” Frank told the media in May after the team was eliminated from the first round of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets. “Because when this player reaches his peak, our team will be completely different. … So you write the best available, but we have certain characteristics that we really prioritize.

“The size of the position is important to us. Basketball QI and treatment are important to us. The ability to pass, dribbling and shooting is important to us. And then DNA, makeup, tenacity, competitiveness, examples of the place where they are really shown, the grain.

Clippers’ veterans James Harden, Nicolas Batum and Norman Powell also have contractual decisions to be made.

Harden has a player option for $ 36.3 million and he must inform the clippers of his decision by June 29. The consensus around the NBA is that Harden will withdraw and seek an extension of two years with the Clippers.

Harden, 35, who collected an average of 22.8 points, 8.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds, was part of the Stars team and was the third all-NBA team.

Batum, a favorite from his teammates and coach Clippers Tyronn Lue, has a player option for next season which pays him $ 4.9 million and he must let the team know by June 29 of his decision.

Powell, 32, has one more year on his agreement which pays him $ 20.4 million next season. Powell, which has an average of a career summit of 21.8 points per game, is also looking for an extension.