The Pacific Division features three franchises in the lottery along with a two-team upper crust that includes the NBA champion. While it's no Southwest division where every team made the playoffs, there's at least some promise after the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Phoenix Suns flirted with a playoff spot, the Sacramento Kings have DeMarcus Cousins (untradeable!) and the Los Angeles Lakers are, well, the Lakers. Whatever route they take, nobody really expects them to be this bad for a prolonged period.
Los Angeles Lakers
Picks in the 2015 NBA Draft: No. 2, No. 27, No. 34.
Area(s) of need: The easy answer is everything, but point guard stands out. Granted, Jordan Clarkson showed promise. With the Minnesota Timberwolves expected to take one of Jahlil Okafor or Karl-Anthony Towns at No. 1, the Lakers could also jump on whoever the Wolves don't pick, filling another need inside.
The wild card there is the Lakers will have power forward Julius Randle effectively coming in as a rookie next season. Looking at the Lakers' positional breakdown this season, small forward (and wing in general, with Kobe Bryant on his way out) is also a hole. The Lakers pick again at the end of the first round, thanks to owning the Houston Rockets' first-rounder from the Jeremy Lin trade.
Potential targets, No. 2: D'Angelo Russell, Jahlil Okafor, Karl-Anthony Towns, Emmanuel Mudiay; No. 27: Justin Anderson, Rashad Vaughn
Sacramento Kings
Picks in the 2015 NBA Draft: No. 6
Area of need: Power forward/stretch-four. The Kings could use an upgrade in the front court alongside DeMarcus Cousins. New coach George Karl enjoyed some success sliding Rudy Gay up to the four this season, but is that a permanent arrangement?
Potential targets: Kristaps Porzingis is a no-brainer fit-wise as an athletic long four who can shoot from outside; in other words, Karl's kind of player. He also may well be gone by pick six. If going the defensive route, Willie Cauley-Stein is also a logical choice next to Cousins, and there's a rumor that might make Boogie happy. Sacramento could also look at small forward Justise Winslow.
Phoenix Suns
Picks in the 2015 NBA Draft: No. 13
Area of need: Small forward/wing, power forward/center. The Suns intend to re-sign restricted free agent Brandon Knight and are therefore still committed to the two-point guard system.
They need scoring from the three but also from a backcourt sharpshooter. One of their first-rounders from last year, guard Bogdan Bogdanovich, is still not expected stateside next season. While they've got Alex Len and the Morris brothers for bigs, they could also use a rebounder who protects the rim and can shoot.
Potential targets: Stanley Johnson, Kelly Oubre, Myles Turner, Devin Booker, Sam Dekker
Los Angeles Clippers
Barring a trade, no picks in 2015. Their first-rounder belongs to the Boston Celtics from the Doc Rivers deal, and their second-rounder is the Denver Nuggets' thanks to a 2009 trade for one Cheikh Samb.
Golden State Warriors
Picks in the 2015 NBA Draft: No. 30
Area of need: Come on. Unless Draymond Green ends up leaving (the Warriors will likely match any offer sheet), they're in good shape. But 32-year-old reserve combo guard Leandro Barbosa is a free agent and may be replaced via the draft. Big man depth could also be addressed.
Potential targets: The best player available.
