NBA draft lottery results 2019: Lakers land No. 4 pick

Against all odds, the Los Angeles Lakers have jumped up in the draft lottery and claimed the No. 4 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, clearing the way for them to potentially select a difference-maker, or set up a trade.

The Lakers had just a 9.4% chance to move up into the top-four picks, but overcame those long odds to end up with a real asset, either on the floor, or in a potential trade.

Still, as much as some will want the Lakers to hold onto their newest asset — and we will cover the types of players it will allow them to select in the days to come — it’s also possible they will try to deal it for a player ready to contribute now, whether that be the most expected target in Anthony Davis or someone lower on the ladder like (just for example, this is not reporting) Bradley Beal.

And the latter option does seem much more likely at this point, as despite the team apparently being so sensitive to the idea that LeBron James is in charge that they’re seemingly going out of their way to show he isn’t, they presumably still want to get the most out of his remaining time in a Lakers uniform. Dealing the young player they could get with this pick, a player that is unlikely to be able to contribute right away, for a proven option would accelerate the team’s timeline, but at the cost of shortening their potential window.

The Lakers will have to weigh the costs and benefits of these potential decisions over the next month in the lead-up to the draft on June 21. Which direction they go in is an unknown for now, but while they surely didn’t want to miss the playoffs, doing so has certainly left them with a lot more options.

Here is the full order for the first round of the draft:

1. New Orleans Pelicans
2. Memphis Grizzlies
3. New York Knicks
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
6. Phoenix Suns
7. Chicago Bulls
8. Atlanta Hawks
9. Washington Wizards
10. Atlanta Hawks
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
12. Charlotte Hornets
13. Miami Heat
14. Boston Celtics
15. Detroit Pistons
16. Orlando Magic
17. Brooklyn Nets
18. Indiana Pacers
19. San Antonio Spurs
20. Boston Celtics
21. Oklahoma City Thunder
22. Boston Celtics
23. Utah Jazz
24. Philadelphia 76ers
25. Portland Trail Blazers
26. Cleveland Cavaliers
27. Brooklyn Nets
28. Golden State Warriors
29. San Antonio Spurs
30. Milwaukee Bucks

For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts.