If history is any indication, the Lakers will either select their next franchise player or next headache with the No. 2 overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft.
Over the last past 20 years, the second selection in the draft has delivered mixed results for teams who fell just short of winning the NBA lottery. Some are Hall of Fame-bound, while others didn’t make it past their first contract. The results have varied from superstar (Kevin Durant), to middling journeyman (Evan Turner), to downright awful (Darko Milicic, Stromile Swift, Hasheem Thabeet).
Still, it’s enviable position to be in, and a large part of the Lakers’ future hinges on getting the pick right.