The Lakers have the 24th pick.  Their GM is:

  Lee Rusk

The Lakers select:

  Vitaly Potapenko, C, 6-10, Wright State

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Record 53-29
Lost in 1st round of playoffs to Houston, 3-1 

Roster:
Cedric Ceballos
Nick Van Exel
Vlade Divac
Eddie Jones
Anthony Peeler
George Lynch
Corie Blount

Unrestricted FA's:
Elden Campbell
Sedale Threatt
Frankie King
Anthony Miller
Fred Roberts
Derek Strong 

Coach:
Del Harris

TEAM NEEDS: The Lakers have one glaring need, an inside physical presence.
There were only 5 teams with less total rebounds than the Lakers.  They
were regularly dominated by skilled post up players such as Olajuwon, 
Robinson, and Malone.  While the frontline combo of Campbell and Divac
is skilled offensively, and blocks shots very well, they are both finesse
players.  Either player would be a better duo if teamed up with a 
more physical player (i.e. Divac with a Dale Davis, or Campbell with
a Andrew Lang).  The other area the Lakers need to develop in is maturity.  
Much has been made of the trials and tribulations of Van Exel and Ceballos.
It was quite a circus this year, ending in a very dissapointing early exit
in the playoffs.  Hopefully, with Magic Johnson removed from the scenes this
team will grow together and gel as a team.

CENTER: Laker fans love to complain about Vlade.  He takes bad shots, doesn't
play aggresively enough, overplays on defense, rebounds poorly...etc.  Bottom
line though is he is a very skilled offensive player, who would probably start
on about 15-18 other NBA clubs.  He has an array of spin and post up moves 
that make him a very effective offensive force.  Stat wise, his numbers look
pretty good; 12.9ppg, 8.6rpg, 3.3apg, 1.65bpg.  Definatley in the second
echelon of centers.  Still, the Lakers need an inside presence that Vlade 
doesn't deliver.  As far as the Lakers back up goes that role was left to
Elden Campbell.  That's alright, but it leaves a big hole at power forward.
Sam Bowie filled the backup role last year, and was sorely missed upon his
retirement.  Through the draft or free agency the Lakers need to address
the back up center role.

POWER FORWARD: Elden (or as Hubie Brown call him Elton) Campbell has      
improved dramatically in the last year and a half.  Starting with the
playoffs in 94-95, Elden has become option number one in the Lakers
half court set.  He's got some pretty good post up moves, combined
with great leaping ability makes him tough to stop.  Like Divac, he
also has great shot blocking ability averaging 2.6bpg this year.
Unfortunatley, also like Vlade he is very soft on the boards.  The
thing that really gnaws at you as a Laker fan is his inconsistency.
Elden will look all-world one game, then completely uninvolved and
uninterested the next.  Fortunatley, these inconsistencies have occurred
more and more infrequently in the last season or so.  Jerry West must
make a huge effort to resign Elden, as there is no real quality behind
him.  The back up role is filled by many; George Lynch, Corie Blount,
Fred Roberts, Anthony Miller and Derek Strong.  None of these guys have 
made major contributions.  If Lynch only had another couple of inches, 
he could be a very successful player.  As is, he is an undersized overachiever. 

SMALL FORWARD: Cedric Ceballos, the ultimate garbage man.  Averaged
over 21pts with virtually no plays being run for him.  One of only
a handful of players to average over 7rpg (actually finished the season 
at 6.8rpg) and over 20ppg.  You will not find a harder working player,
at least offensively, then Ced.  Of course, CC does have his faults.
His defense is adequate at best and he does like to water ski.
Hopefully, Cedric has learned quite a bit from last year and has
been able to mature.  As far as backup goes, Eddie Jones will slide
over from his 2-guard spot, as well as George Lynch.  Both are not
true small forwards, but play well in spurts in that spot.

SHOOTING GUARD: The Lakers deepest and most talented position.  The
starter is Eddie Jones.  Eddie is an extremely gifted player.  Good
three point shot, awesome finisher, tenacious on defense.  Eddie is
primed to have a major break through season.  As long as he stays 
healthy, I see a big year for EJ.  In the Houston playoff series,
Eddie was one of the few bright spots.  Hopefully, Del Harris will
make Jones a focal point in the offense next year.  Eddie's backup
is the Lakers best pure shooter, Anthony Peeler.  Anthony also seems
primed to have a break through season.  With his great shooting touch
and explosiveness off the drive, Peeler has all the potential to be
the leagues best sixth man.  With Eddie able to play small forward,
Peeler should see a lot of playing time.       

POINT GUARD: Nick Van Exel had a dissapointing year in a number of
ways.  There was the much publicised incident in Denver as well
as a decline in productivity.  Coming out of the 94-95 playoffs,
Nick was THE MAN on the Lakers.  Having outplayed Gary Payton
in Round 1, and pushing the Spurs to 6 games with some heroics
in Round 2, Nick was the unquestioned leader of the Lake Show.
Nick got off to a slow start and with the combination of injuries,
Magic's return, and the suspension was never able to live up to
the lofty expectations of Laker fans.  Nick certaninly has the
talent to be one of the dominant PG's in the league.  Hopefully,
we will see a return to form in 96-97.  Sedale Threatt has played
an invaluable role of backup PG and occasional off guard.  Sedale,
or "The Thief" as Chick Hearn calls him, plays tough D and occasionally
light it up from the outside.  It is imperative that the Lakers re-sign
him, or an equivalent backup for Nick.


MY SELECTION:  Vitaly Potapenko, 6-11, 250, C/F, Wright State.
Moved up on draft boards with good draft camp showings.  Should
be effective offensively.  Questions remain, as with most Euro
players, as to interior defense and rebounding.   He should get
considerable PT rotating with Vlade and Elden at the 4-5 spots.

OTHERS CONSIDERED: 
Efthimis Retzias: Highest rated true Center left.

Steve Nash: Solid PG.  Picked just two before my pick.

Moochie Norris: Very tempted to take the best PG left.  With
Threatt an aging FA, Nick needs a back up.  Moochie (I like
the name) is the best one left.  Thought he would be available,
and may be in the real draft.

Travis Knight:  Liked how this guy improved greatly over his
career.  Good outside shot for a big man.  Looking at how is
FT % went up over his career (40-50-65-69), shows this guy
will work on his game.

Othella Harrington: Has talent and may flourish outside of
Georgetown.  If he was a tad taller than 6'9" I might have
gone with him.

WHO THEY'LL PROBABLY TAKE: I've heard they are looking at Norris, 
which would be a good pick.  Jerry West has had tremendous success
with late round picks; AC Green, Elden Campbell, Vlade Divac, and
Nick Van Exel.  So whoever they pick will have a good shot at
getting some PT.  A lot depends on what they think will happen in
the FA market.  If they're sure they will land a big man, that opens
the door even more for a PG selection.

OTHER MOVES: It's obvious....sign Shaq!  It will be very interesting to
see what develops on the FA market this summer.  The Lakers have a lot
of $$ to throw around, combined with the attractiveness of the LA market
should enable them to land a high quality FA.  Shaq, Howard, Mutombo, 
Antoine Davis, Dale Davis, and Brian Williams are obviously guys who would
fill the Lakers need for inside strength.  Jerry West also needs to
sign Elden Campbell and Sedale Threatt.   There have been several rumours,
as there are every year, about trading Vlade.  The only way I see doing that
is if the Lakers land one of the top 3 big guys (Shaq/Howard/Mutombo) AND
get quality player and/or pick(s) in return for Divac.  All in all, in will
be a very interesting summer for West and Co.