Lakers Need to Use No. 4 Pick as Collateral to Trade for Anthony Davis

The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in the midst of a do-or-die offseason, but by somehow grabbing the No. 4 overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery, they have a trade piece that could help them land one of the biggest names in the league.

The Lakers absolutely need to use their top pick to get trade talks going for a potential blockbuster deal to land Anthony Davis, especially since he has not wavered on his trade request.

The possibility of the Knicks and Lakers in the 3 and 4 spots, potentially using those picks in competing Anthony Davis trade proposals, is incredible
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) May 15, 2019

The Pelicans have to love the idea of possibly having two top-five picks in this star-studded draft.

As for the Lakers, outside the top three leaves them in a tough spot when it comes to drafting potential elite talent. They have to win now and adding another young player to their already inexperienced roster isn't going to help LeBron in the short term. If the opportunity arises to put that pick in a deal that includes some of their younger players, then they have to do it.

Davis pairing with LeBron is probably the best option out there, especially considering all of the uncertainty surrounding this year's star free agents. With all that's gone down in LA, it'll be tough to convince some of those guys to join a Lakers' organization that's been a laughingstock for quite some time.

The Lakers had reportedly agreed to send Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Ivica Zubac, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and two first round picks to New Orleans for Anthony Davis last season but it was turned down. Then again, that was Dell Demps not David Griffin.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) May 15, 2019

The Lakers lucked out jumping from No. 11 to No. 4 and now they have to use it to their advantage. The best way to do that is to keep open dialogue with the Pelicans throughout the offseason for as long as possible.