The Los Angeles Lakers were just four picks away from landing one of today’s rising backcourt stars.
NBA insider Jovan Buha recently revealed on his podcast Buha’s Block that the Lakers had their eyes on Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard during the 2022 NBA Draft. With no first-round pick that year—their selection had been conveyed to New Orleans and became Dyson Daniels—the Lakers had to wait until the second round to make a move. Their hope was that Nembhard, fresh off a strong career at Gonzaga, would fall to them at No. 35.
That plan unraveled when Indiana selected him at No. 31. Los Angeles pivoted to Michigan State wing Max Christie, a decision that has aged in complicated ways.
“There is an alternate universe where he’s a Laker,” Buha explained. “Because one fun fact is that the pick the Lakers used Max Christie on, they were hoping Nembhard was going to slip, but he went 31st to Indiana.”
What Nembhard Became
Gotta have the Latest from LA + LUKA Mind-meld
Now 25, Nembhard has blossomed into one of the NBA’s most underrated guards. He averaged 10.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists last season while providing steady shooting and stout perimeter defense. His value skyrocketed during Indiana’s run to the 2025 NBA Finals, where he delivered in big moments and proved he could hold his own against elite competition.
That playoff résumé, combined with his defensive versatility, has made him indispensable to the Pacers. When Tyrese Haliburton suffered an Achilles injury, Rick Carlisle handed Nembhard the starting point guard role—an endorsement of his growth and leadership.
What the Lakers Got Instead
The Lakers’ selection of Christie wasn’t a miss in the traditional sense. After two quiet seasons, he emerged as a solid 3-and-D contributor in 2024-25 under first-year head coach JJ Redick. By midseason, Christie had earned a starting role—only to be shipped to Dallas in the blockbuster deal that brought Luka Dončić to Los Angeles.
Before the trade, Christie averaged 8.5 points and shot nearly 37% from three. In Dallas, he pushed that output to 11.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, showing he could hold down a rotation spot on a playoff team.
Ironically, had the Lakers landed Nembhard, he almost certainly would have been included in that same trade. Dallas wanted young assets, and Christie filled that slot. In another timeline, Nembhard might have been the piece sacrificed for Dončić.
A “What If” With Value on Both Sides
Buha’s report underscores how finely the margins of the draft can shape franchises. The Lakers correctly identified Nembhard’s potential, but the Pacers acted first. Three years later, Indiana has a playoff-tested floor general, while Los Angeles parlayed Christie into acquiring one of the league’s brightest superstars.
In the end, both front offices extracted real value. Still, for Lakers fans, the revelation lingers: just four more picks, and Andrew Nembhard could have been wearing purple and gold.