Lakers Looking for Luck With the 37th Pick Again

The Lakers, faced with the possibility of sitting out tonight’s NBA draft for the first time since moving to Los Angeles, Tuesday acquired the 37th pick from the Washington Bullets for a pair of second-round choices in 1997.

“We’ve been successful with our picks in the second round,” Executive Vice President Jerry West said. “And this is high enough that we think we can get someone valuable with it.”

The Lakers used the 37th pick two years ago to select Nick Van Exel. Tony Smith was a second-round choice in 1990.

The Lakers’ first-round selection, No. 21 overall, went to the Phoenix Suns for Cedric Ceballos, and the second-rounder was sent to Golden State for Anthony (Pig) Miller. Now, they have a replacement No. 2.

The Bullets will get two of L.A.’s picks in 1997, the Lakers’ own in the second round and one that the New York Knicks traded last October as part of the Doug Christie deal.

With the Lakers looking to add a big man and a younger backup point guard to Van Exel, with Sedale Threatt turning 34 in September, West does not discount the possibility of another trade today.

“You never know,” he said. “We’ve been doing some talking.”