Look for future point guard options in the NBA Draft

While they are in “championship mode” and looking to make year-by-year moves to set themselves up for postseason success, there definitely has to be a sense of concern in this Lakers’ front-office about not having much young talent to build with over the years. Kyle Kuzma and Talen Horton-Tucker are the only really young players on this roster and Horton-Tucker is set to become a restricted free agent in the offseason. 

The Lakers really like the upside THT presents and they feel he could turn into a really reliable player, which is why they will likely have to open up their checkbook to pay him in the offseason. While they do not have a draft pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, expect to see the Lakers do their homework on some potential late first-round, early second-round guards. 

They could easily pull off a draft night trade to acquire a young prospect in the second-round this year at the expense of cash considerations. Having a young core for the future is extremely important for any franchise and while LeBron James may still have plenty of years left in him, he is still 36-years-old and nearing the end of his career. 

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With virtually no young players on their roster right now, the Lakers are not in a “great” position moving forward, but again, LeBron James is still playing at one of the highest-levels of his career and is showing no signs of slowing down. 

It is not necessarily preparing for “life after LeBron,” but it is more about covering themselves in case something was to happen. It is never a bad thing to have young players that they can develop and over the years, they have been very lucky to have both Kuzma and Horton-Tucker as two young players. 

No matter if Schroder stays or not, the Lakers will have opportunities to add more youthful talent to their roster, which is exactly what they should try to do, especially if it will not cost them much in terms of giving up some cash for a second-round pick.