The Los Angeles Lakers hold the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft, giving them a plethora of options. Many expect them to go with Kentucky center Karl-Anthony Towns or Duke center Jahlil Okafor, but there are a few other scenarios they’re considering in the days leading up to the draft:
1) Timberwolves favor Jahlil Okafor, leaving Karl-Anthony Towns for Los Angeles
The Lakers favor Towns, who is expected to be the top pick, but ESPN’s Chad Ford says the Timberwolves actually favor Okafor, leaving Towns for Los Angeles.
Virtually all the signals from sources inside the Wolves point to Jahlil Okafor being Flip Saunders’ favorite right now. That obviously can change as we get closer to the draft. Workouts and interviews and lobbying from staff (I hear most of the rest of the staff favors Towns) could push Towns back atop. And after watching Towns’ workout Monday, I believe that the Wolves will figure this out in favor of Towns. Towns has tremendous upside, no glaring weaknesses and he’s a better fit in Minnesota, in my opinion, than Okafor. He has the highest ceiling of any player in the draft and I think his impact will come sooner rather than later. And do not totally discount here either. I am told Saunders is also a big fan and might be willing to move Ricky Rubio for the right deal.
2) Scouts Prefer D’Angelo Russell Over Emmanuel Mudiay
However, if the Lakers pass on a big man, they'll take a point guard - either Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay.
Which one would the Lakers pick? Long-time NBA scouting consultant Ryan Blake says they would be smart to go with Russell:
“They’re different players. Mudiay is a combo guard and he attacks the rim more. He’s got great crafty hands and is a good floor man. He doesn’t shoot the ball well. He shoots 33% from behind the arc, but he only shot 21 percent from shots beyond the arc. When he does get behind the line, he’s shooting under 60% in free throws. He’s attacking and scoring. For Russell, game comes so slow to him. He works the pick and roll extremely well. He can shoot from deep and get inside for floaters. The angles on his passing are different. I give Russell the edge. That’s the type of player I want.”
3) Los Angeles met with Justise Winslow at the NBA Draft Combine
According to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News, the team was one of a large group of teams who met with Winslow at the NBA Draft Combine.
Winslow would provide an instant impact on both ends for the Lakers, as he’s a skilled small-ball power forward adept at both shooting and locking down on opposing threats big and small.
His 12.6-point, 6.5-rebound average during the 2014-15 regular season was good enough, but he pushed his game to another level in Duke’s title run, averaging 14.3 points and 9.3 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament.
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