The Los Angeles Lakers captured their 17th NBA title in franchise history in 2020 and looked to repeat as championship this year, but injuries played a big role in them nt being able to do so. LeBron James missed nearly a month during the regular season with a high ankle sprain and Anthony David missed nearly two months with a mysterious calf injury that seemed to bother him all season long. 

Then in the first-round of the playoffs against the Phoenix Suns, James still seemed to be a little bit bothered by this ankle injury and Anthony Davis went down again, this time with a groin injury that forced him to miss the last few games of this series. Los Angeles ultimately lost to the Suns and were sent to the beach early this summer. 

Overall though, this may not be such a bad thing for the Lakers in the grand scheme of things because this does give them time to relax, something they have not had time to do over the years due to the NBA Bubble and the 2020-21 season ending and starting very closely to each other. 

With time to relax and regroup, not only will the Lakers roster be rejuvenated heading into the 2021-22 season, but their front-office and GM Rob Pelinka has had plenty of time to think about what they will be doing in the 2021 NBA Draft. 

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The Lakers own the 22nd pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and they are in a position where they could wind up with a pretty talented, youthful player. Outside of Kyle Kuzma, who has been involved in trade rumors this offseason, and Talen Horton-Tucker, who is a restricted free agent, the Lakers really do not have many young talents on their roster, which is why is it important that they add a talented, young player via the draft this year. 

Who could Los Angeles be targeting though in the middle of the first-round? Let’s take a look at the Lakers’ Top-4 options with the No. 22 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.