The rumor mill keeps churning as we are now less than 48 hours from the 2017 NBA Draft. One of the biggest players in the draft rumor game this year is the Los Angeles Lakers who hold the No. 2 pick and are currently trying to balance their desires in this year’s draft with their desire to acquire Paul George from the Indiana Pacers.
There have been multiple reports of who they will draft at No. 2, most think it is a decision between Lonzo Ball of UCLA and Josh Jackson of Kansas.
The most recent trade rumor surrounding the team may make that decision a little clearer.
According to ESPN’s Chad Ford, the Lakers are shopping former No. 2 pick (just two years ago) De’Angelo Russell for another top 12 pick in the draft.
Lakers are “dangling” D'Angelo Russell as they attempt to acquire another top-12 pick, per @chadfordinsider https://t.co/JxkaBPFyKr pic.twitter.com/T1IDtNRMlQ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 20, 2017
This report makes a lot of sense if the Lakers are set on drafting Lonzo Ball to be their new point guard of the future at No. 2.
According to the report, they are trying to acquire the pick in order to draft Duke’s Luke Kennard, a silky smooth wing player with a nice jump shot or potential rim protector in Gonzaga’s Zach Collins.
That report has been refuted, but Collins makes perfect sense as he is the player in the draft that most fills their biggest need, a rim protector who can stretch the floor.
The idea of trading the former No. 2 pick just two years later for another draft pick eight to ten picks later seems a little counter productive, but it may be the right move logically on and off the court if they are decided on drafting Lonzo Ball.
There are a number of point guard needy teams in the top 10 who could be interested in a young talent such as Russell including the Magic at No. 6, the T’Wolves at No. 7, the Knicks at No. 8, the Mavericks at No. 9 or even the Kings with their second pick at No. 10.
It will be interesting to see how the Lakers future will look different after Thursday night.
