Lakers Draft Rumors: L.A. Could Trade Up To Get Quincy Miller Or Perry Jones

Up to this point, there has been little interest in what the Los Angeles Lakers will end up doing in the 2012 NBA Draft. Los Angeles has the last pick in the NBA Draft, and although the memory of Isaiah Thomas is still fresh in our minds, it's not likely Mr. Irrelevant will make the difference for L.A. next season.

However, the Lakers might be thinking of making draft day a little bit more interesting for their fans. Here's what Sam Amico had to say earlier.

Lakers "making real push" to get into 1st round of NBA Draft, says EC exec. Word is they like the Baylor guys: Perry Jones & Quincy Miller.

— Sam Amico (@SamAmicoFSO) June 21, 2012

It's clear why Los Angeles would want Miller; the Lakers need an athletic small forward for the future, and Quincy fits the profile. The interest in a player like Jones does make you wonder if Los Angeles are thinking of keeping Pau Gasol until Jones is fully developed. You have to figure Jones would be targeted to eventually replace Gasol as the team's primary power forward, i.e. an athletic big who can help clean up missed shots from Kobe Bryant or Andrew Bynum on offense.

Talk about the possibility of the Lakers taking a player like Miller or Jones with Los Angeles fans at Silver Screen and Roll.

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Lakers Draft Rumors: Who Will Be Los Angeles' Mr. Irrelevant?

The Los Angeles Lakers hold only one pick in the 2012 NBA draft, and it happens to be the very last pick: No. 60 overall. While this pick likely does not hold any long-term implications for the Lakers' success on the court, the Lakers would be smart to do their homework.

In the 2011 NBA draft, the Sacramento Kings selected Isaiah Thomas with the final pick of the draft. Thomas became the Kings' starting point guard was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team and averaged 11.5 points and 4.1 assists per game.

NBADraft.net has the Lakers selecting power forward/center Greg Mangano out of Yale. Mangano played four years at Yale and averaged 18.2 points and 9.7 rebounds per game this past season. While Mangano will not battle for starters minutes as a Laker, he could turn out to be a solid role player.

Here is a snippet of Mangano's scouting report from NBADraft.net:

Face the basket bigman with range out to 3 point ... Has a great stroke showing the ability to catch and shoot with a quick, fluid motion ... Prolific scorer for a bigman

To discuss whether Mangano would be a good pick with Lakers fans, head on over to Silver Screen and Roll.

NBA Mock Draft 2012: Lakers Pick Khris Middleton

The Los Angeles Lakers have only one pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, but it's the last one. The Lakers have no first rounders, but they do have the 30th pick in the 2nd round. With many of the Laker regulars aging, the team will have to start looking at the draft to replenish their team's coffers.

DraftExpress released his latest mock, and the Lakers end up taking swingman Khris Middleton of the Texas A&M Aggies. It's likely to provide the Lakers with a potential backup for Kobe Bryant as he grows older. But really at that point in the draft it's unlikely the Lakers will find someone who can really be a frontline starter for them.

To discuss whether Middleton would be a good pick with Lakers fans, head on over to Silver Screen and Roll. To talk about Middleton with Texas A&M fans to find out how good he is, check out I Am The 12th Man.

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2012 NBA Mock Draft: Lakers Take Henry Sims

The Lakers take Georgetown power forward Henry Sims in this 2012 NBA Mock Draft.