Lakers take Jalen Hood-Schifino with the No. 17 pick

The pick is in; the Lakers have taken Indiana University guard Jalen Hood-Schifino with the No. 17 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

For the first time in what seems like forever, the Los Angeles Lakers had a first-round draft pick that wasn’t being re-routed to another team in a trade. It gave them an opportunity to address at least one of their needs in a cost-effective manner.

The Lakers need 3-point shooting, defense and potentially a ball-handling guard. D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves, their two starting guards, are about to become free agents, and there is a chance they lose both this summer.

At the very least, they may have a replacement for one or both. The Lakers took Jalen Hood-Schifino, a guard out of Indiana University, with the No. 17 pick in Thursday’s draft.