Early in the season, when the Los Angeles Lakers were mired in a horrible 2-10 start, there was fear they would end up giving a very high draft pick this summer to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Per the terms of 2019’s Anthony Davis trade, the Pelicans had the right to swap first-round picks with L.A. this year. When the Purple and Gold struggled in October and November, there was even a bit of fear the pick the team might give up the No. 1 pick overall, meaning it would’ve surrendered the rights to French phenom Victor Wembanyama.
Instead, the Lakers turned things around, starting in February, and kept their pick (No. 17).
They recently worked out a very intriguing prospect who could be taken with that No. 17 pick, and his name is Maxwell Lewis.