NBA
The Lakers reportedly wanted to select this Pacers starter in the 2022 NBA draft
Zach Wolpin is an NBA and NFL expert who's been betting on the league for over three years now. Wolpin has been a fan of the NBA and has been watching for a decade and a half. He covers the latest news and stories surrounding the league daily. His passion in life is watching sports and being able to share that through his sports writing. He has written about the NBA and other sports leagues through various media outlets over the years like Sir Charles In Charge, G-Men HQ, and TAP into South Plainfield. Before he became an NBA News Writer, Wolpin attended Montclair State University where he graduated in 2021. He studied Sports Media and Writing while in school.
All posts by Zach WolpinUpdated1 hour ago on September 17, 2025
In the 2022 NBA draft, the Los Angeles Lakers did not have a first-round selection. They traded that pick to the New Orleans Pelicans to acquire Anthony Davis.
Los Angeles did have a second-round selection, the 35th overall pick. According to Lakers insiders Jovan Buha, the team was reportedly targeting Gonzaga’s Andrew Nemhard. However, the Indiana Pacers swept in and took Nembhard with the 31st overall pick in 2022. The Lakers had to pivot and drafted Michigan State’s Max Christie.
The Los Angeles Lakers almost drafted Andrew Nembhard in 2022
Lakers Reportedly Wanted To Draft Pacers Star Over Max Christie https://t.co/Ku2LS8rzyj
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 17, 2025
Over three seasons, Andrew Nembhard has played in 208 games and made 175 starts for the Pacers. His 65 starts in 2024-25 were a new career-high for the 25-year-old. Additionally, his 10.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game were new personal bests. Nembhard had a breakout season in year three with the Pacers. Back in the 2022 NBA draft, Nembhard was almost selected by the Los Angeles Lakers. They had the 35th pick in that year’s draft.
Los Angeles was ready to take Nembhard with the 35th pick. That was until the Indiana Pacers jumped in at pick 31 and took Andrew Nembhard. This forced the Lakers to pivot, and they selected Michigan State’s Max Christie. The first three-and-a-half seasons of Christie’s career were played for the Lakers. At the 2024-25 trade deadline, the Lakers traded Christie as part of a package deal to acquire Luka Doncic from the Mavericks. Christie was an afterthought for the Lakers and found a new home with Dallas.
#Lakers drafted Max Christie in 2022, but Andrew Nembhard was also one of their targets before the Pacers selected the guard.https://t.co/CgX7mt3I5i
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) September 16, 2025
After he was traded to the Mavs, Max Christie appeared in 32 games and made 11 starts. In his short time with Dallas, Christie averaged 11.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. That was far and away the most playing time he’s seen in the NBA. With Dallas, Christie averaged 30.4 minutes per game. Next season, Max Christie will be a solid depth piece off the bench for head coach Jason Kidd.
As for Andrew Nembhard, he’ll take on a larger role in the 2025-26. Pacers’ starting PG Tyrese Haliburton will miss the entire season due to a torn Achilles. Head coach Rick Carlisle has already publicly named Nembhard as their starting PG next season. Bennedict Mathurin will start at SG in place of Nembhard. While the Lakers correctly identified Andrew Nembhard as a prospect, the Pacers selected him at pick 31 in 2022. Los Angeles had pick #35. Jovan Buha said there is an “alternate universe” where Andrew Nembhard is a member of the Lakers.
