The NBA Draft has come and gone, and the Lakers came away with four second round draft picks. Only time will tell if any of these choices will actually help and benefit the Lakers organization in the long run. Since 2000, the Lakers have drafted several players and over the course of that time period only a few of those players can be recognized as true contributors to the Lakers success this decade. This week we take a look at the top five draft picks since the new millennium began, and what they did to leave their imprint on the Laker organization.
5. Marc Gasol
Although he never played a minute for the Los Angeles Lakers, he was an integral part in bringing his older brother Pau to the city of Los Angeles. At the beginning, the trade seemed to be overwhelmingly in favor of the Lakers, but now more than ever does the trade look a lot more even.
Marc Gasol has flourished and is becoming a force down low, which has had some Lakers fans questioning the decision to include him in that trade. But let’s not forget that the trade did bring in Pau and with him the Lakers won back to back championships.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHmPFxOwqAo&feature=related
4. Sasha Vujacic
The Machine was drafted 27th overall in the first round by the Lakers. Vujacic was drafted out of Snaidero Udine(Italy) in the 2004 draft. With his pesky defense and streaky shooting, he helped the Lakers become back-to-back champions. Although he didn’t contribute a lot to the team, he was traded to the New Jersey Nets where he currently plays. He averages 9.8 points per game, 2.0 assists per game, and 2.8 rebounds per game.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxopvqKlTBc
Next: A Mad Dog and Bruin
