The day of the NBA Draft is a whirlwind of emotions and confusion for NBA teams, players and reporters alike. The news and rumors grow as the day goes on and teams are looking towards the future.
The future for the Los Angeles Lakers may be unclear as the draft approaches as they do appear to have some options on the table. They can do a few things with their number 2 pick and the one most discussed as of late, is the possibility of them using the pick as a main trade piece to acquire DeMarcus Cousins.
While the deal is still being discussed between the Sacramento Kings and Lakers, there’s always the high chance the Lakers stay put and use their pick to draft a potential star player to help them into the future. For a long time, it was almost assumed they would take Jahlil Okafor, but as of late, they might have changed their mind for a very different reason.
Following from Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report.
If the Los Angeles Lakers draft Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell on Thursday night, as is the increasing likelihood, it will be for one simple reason.
They believe he is a star.
Although the Lakers respect Jahlil Okafor’s size and skill (his defensive potential, not so much), momentum and consensus have been growing in the front office that Russell, not Okafor, is the special one.
When you’re the Los Angeles Lakers, you have to consider star power as a factor. Russell has that and this week in New York, he proved it. He was crowded by people everywhere he walked down 42nd Street and he had a bigger crowd for his autograph signing than both projected number one pick Karl-Anthony Towns and Okafor.
Russell apparently has ‘it’ but is ‘it’ right for the Lakers? This move could be confusing based off their current guard situation with both Kobe Bryant and Jordan Clarkson so maybe there’s something else in the works for Los Angeles?
Could a big man possibly be in talks with the Lakers to make them want to take Russell over Okafor? It appears they have been moving up the list for LaMarcus Aldridge’s potential destinations and David Aldridge of Turner Sports also thinks they have a big man plan ready.
If @KevinDing says it's Russell for the Lakers, they have a big in their back pocket via free agency/trade…. https://t.co/ZoXLa2pYRc
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) June 25, 2015
