Lakers Reportedly Wanted To Draft Pacers Star Over Max Christie

NBA insider Jovan Buha recently revealed that the Los Angeles Lakers had their eyes on Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard during the 2022 NBA Draft. 

Speaking on his podcast Buha’s Block, he explained that the team hoped the former Gonzaga standout would slide far enough for them to snag him with the 35th pick. Instead, the Pacers selected Nembhard at No. 31, forcing the Lakers to pivot to Michigan State wing Max Christie.

“There is an alternate universe where he’s a Laker, 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.”

The Lakers did not have a first-round pick that year, as their 2022 selection was conveyed to the New Orleans Pelicans. That pick became Dyson Daniels. Los Angeles’ earliest chance to add young talent came in the second round and while Christie has since proven himself as a solid 3-and-D option, it’s clear the front office was intrigued by Nembhard’s all-around skill set.

Nembhard, now 25, has blossomed into one of the league’s more underrated guards. Last season, he averaged 10.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists while shooting efficiently from the field. 

More importantly, he emerged as a reliable playoff performer during Indiana’s Finals run in 2025, delivering timely shooting and strong perimeter defense. He’s since been elevated into the Pacers’ starting point guard role following Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles injury, a sign of how much confidence the organization has in him.

Had Nembhard landed with the Lakers, though, his career trajectory may have looked very different. In 2022-23, Los Angeles still featured LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook, with a rotation already crowded in the backcourt. 

While undrafted guard Austin Reaves eventually carved out a role, the path to consistent minutes for another young ball-handler would have been far less certain. It’s entirely possible Nembhard wouldn’t have received the developmental reps he got in Indiana.

Meanwhile, Max Christie has carved out a solid NBA career of his own. After a quiet first two seasons, Christie broke through in 2024-25 under head coach JJ Redick, earning a starting role before ultimately being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in the blockbuster deal that brought Luka Doncic to Los Angeles. 

Christie posted career highs of 11.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists after the trade, showing growth as a rotation-caliber wing.

Ironically, if the Lakers had managed to draft Nembhard, he too likely would have been included in the Doncic deal. Dallas wanted young assets, and Christie filled that role. In another timeline, it could have been Nembhard who was shipped out instead.

Still, Buha’s report highlights how much scouting departments notice even when circumstances prevent them from acting. The Lakers correctly identified Nembhard’s potential, but Indiana was quicker to pounce. Three years later, he has developed into a playoff-tested guard, while Christie has already been flipped into one of the most consequential trades in recent franchise history.

In the end, both teams found value. The Pacers unearthed a high-level role player, while the Lakers turned Christie into the final piece for Luka Doncic. Yet the revelation leaves fans wondering what could have been if Andrew Nembhard had slipped just four more spots.