The Los Angeles Lakers have not been very active in the NBA Draft in recent years. In fact, the last player that the Lakers drafted in the first round was Moritz Wagner back in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Los Angeles finally has a chance to make a selection in the first round, owning the 17th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. The New Orleans Pelicans had the right to swap picks with the Lakers via the Anthony Davis trade but with a better record, the Lakers ultimately kept their pick and gave New Orleans nothing in 2023 for Davis.