The Los Angeles Lakers head into the offseason with plenty of assets, namely the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft, and they've shown a willingness to make any trade to improve their team. As a result, there are plenty of rumors swirling about what the Lakers' plan to do. Here's all the latest Lakers buzz you need to know:
Lakers to take Ingram with No. 2 pick
The Lakers will draft Brandon Ingram with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, according to ESPN's Chad Ford and Ramona Shelburne:
Barring a last-minute blockbuster trade offer, the Los Angeles Lakers intend to select Duke freshman Brandon Ingram with the second pick in the 2016 NBA draft on Thursday night, league sources told ESPN.
The Lakers spent three hours huddled with new head coach Luke Walton on Tuesday night before signaling to multiple league sources that Ingram would be their choice if the Sixers select Ben Simmons with the No. 1 pick.
The Lakers believe that Ingram is a great fit for the organization and a potential All-Star player down the road. His shooting and ability to defend multiple positions on the floor fit a huge need for them. Ingram has been ranked No. 2 on ESPN's Big Board since December and is widely considered the consensus No. 2 pick in the draft by rival general managers.
Philadelphia told Simmons yesterday that they will pick him first overall, leaving Ingram for the Lakers. LA has reportedly targeted Ingram throughout the entire draft process and would've taken him No. 1 if they had won the lottery.
Ingram averaged 17.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for Duke last season.
Lakers to get another top pick in three-team trade?
Los Angeles has expressed interest in acquiring another top pick in the draft to pair with Ingram, and a potential three-team trade might just help them get there. According to Fansided's Bret Stuter, the Lakers are in talks about a trade with the Pelicans and 76ers.
LA would receive the No. 6 pick from New Orleans, who would get Jahlil Okafor from Philadelphia, who would get D'Angelo Russell from the Lakers:
The pieces exchanged by the Pelicans for Russell in that scenario are the sixth overall pick of the 2016 NBA draft. That pick gives the Lakers an opportunity to exercise a mulligan for the back court, selecting any of several possible pieces at six — all the while preserving their second overall pick of the 2016 NBA draft. In essence, the team could walk away from the draft with Brandon Ingram and a top point guard.
The Philadelphia 76ers would exchange Okafor for New Orleans Pelicans center Alexis Ajinca, as well as Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell. Why Ajinca? He is the center brought to the Toronto Raptors by Colangelo back in 2011, a veteran presence in the front court which gives Colangelo that veteran presence off the bench. But the other piece is D’Angelo Russell, a point guard whose strengths lie in shooting — the perfect match in a lineup where the ball handling migrates to the Ben Simmons, who is expected to take on a point forward role.
The Lakers have already talked about the possibility of trading Russell, and have shown a high amount of interest in Buddy Hield - who is expected to still be available with the No. 6 pick.
Follow our Los Angeles Lakers news page for all the latest Lakers draft rumors!
Back to the Los Angeles Lakers Newsfeed