LOL...this is stupid...lakers don't even have their 2017 pick..they have to wait ti'll off-season to find out that....76ers might have that pick.
It's top 3 protected, but you are basically right. Based on percentages, it is unlikely to belong to LAL and PHI will indeed get the pick.
So, with no high lottery pick and no Ingram/Russell, wth does LA have to offer that we can't beat with the BKN pick and Amir/filler or Avery/Crowder/non-BKN picks?
No matter what happens, I will not be that bummed - have always kind-of been pinning my hopes of using on cap space for Hayward (or Griffin) this summer. If that (or something similarly impactful) doesn't materialize, then we will all have to realize that a full youth movement may soon be on the horizon.
The thing is, even if LA keeps their pick, they still can't trade it, because then Philly gets a pick in 2018 and they can't have no first round picks in consecutive future years. And if they lose their pick, then they can't trade the 2018 instead (conditionally) because that would a) still be trading consecutive future picks, and b) if they lose their 1st this year, then they owe a 1st to Orlando in 2019. So the earliest pick they can trade is in 2020 ((if they keep this year's pick) and 2021 (if Philly gets it.)
But if the Lakers get Butler without giving up Ingram or Russell, and having no picks to offer, I will be cranky. I'm not even completely in on getting Butler, but that would be ridiculous if the LA walked away with that bargain.