LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers are in a bad position at the moment. The team is trying to land Victor Wembanyama at the 2023 NBA Draft. Even after their poor winning record, it seems like a long shot for the franchise, considering the Pelicans have the option to swap draft picks. NBA Insider Marc Stein recently revealed ongoing tensions in the Lakers camp.?

There is no doubt that Victor Wembanyama is the golden egg that every team wants to acquire. The Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans seem to be in a cutthroat competition. The Pelicans most likely have the upper hand and that’s thanks to the Lakers. The purple and gold team has one of the worst records in the NBA this season. LeBron James‘ Lakers have played 13 games and managed only three wins. At this rate, they might just end up becoming the lottery team during the 2023 Draft.

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“There is already a palpable fear inside (what I still like to call) Staples Center that the Purple & Gold are careening toward a draft in June in which the New Orleans Pelicans are gleefully positioned to swap picks with L.A. as a condition of the Anthony Davis blockbuster deal in July 2019,” wrote Marc Stein.

LeBron James’ Lakers might have to give up Wembanyama

The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Anthony Davis back in 2019 from the New Orleans Pelicans. The Lakers own the first-round pick for the 2023 Draft. As part of the Pelicans’ condition, the Lakers agreed to include a pick swap. At the time, the Lakers might not have thought that this agreement would cost them one of the best NBA prospects. Victor Wembanyama is a hard price that the Lakers might have to pay. On the other hand, if the Pelicans successfully acquire the French prodigy, then pairing him with Zion Williamson would further strengthen their roster.

Williamson was the top prospect for the 2019 NBA Draft and became the first overall pick of the Pelicans. Moreover, if the Pelicans end up acquiring Wembanyama, there is still Scoot Henderson. The G league Ignite player is considered second only to Wembanyama, and has a promising future.

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The face-off between the top two prospects at the exhibition game sure did impress a whole lot of big names in the NBA league, including LeBron James. However, with the way the team is playing right now, it is highly possible that they will end up losing both of them.