Report: Lakers Have 'Palpable Fear' of Pelicans Pick Swap amid Wembanyama Sweepstakes

There is concern within the organization that the Los Angeles Lakers could wind up winning the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, just not for themselves.

There is a lot of fear within the Lakers organization over the pick swap. If the season ended today, the Lakers would have the best chance of landing Wembanyama.

The consensus No. 2 player in this class is Scoot Henderson, and he is seen as a potential star. As part of the Anthony Davis trade, the Lakers gave the New Orleans Pelicans a pair of All-Star caliber players, but there is no guarantee they will pair them with Zion.

If the Lakers' first-round pick is taken by New Orleans, the team won't be able to land a star through the draft until at least 25 years from now.

It's not likely that many Lakers fans would give away the 2020 championship, but it's becoming more and more apparent that the Pelicans were the long-term winners of Davis. The Lakers have gotten one season of true superstar production from Davis in an otherwise disappointing tenure, whereas New Orleans has built a strong young core of talent that should compete for playoffs for years to come.

In a post-LeBron James era, Davis is more of a second fiddle than a player who can carry the torch. James is losing his battle with Father Time in Year 20.

Fears in the Lakers front office are based in a potentially disastrous reality.