The Lakers seem to be having a hard time deciding what to do with the no. 2 pick in today’s NBA Draft. There were in-depth talks of trading the pick to the Sacramento Kings in a deal involving star center DeMarcus Cousins. Now, however, it looks like the Lakers are likely going to keep their pick as they are unwilling to trade Julius Randle.
So, should the Lakers decide to keep the pick, who should they draft? It is all but assured that Towns is headed to Minnesota, so the Lakers will most likely select either Jahlil Okafor or D’Angelo Russell. From the get-go the Lakers have been tied to Okafor, but recently they’ve reportedly been leaning towards Russell. However, it looks like they’re switching back to Okafor.
From Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times:
Lakers leaning toward taking Jahlil Okafor in tonight's draft, The Times has learned. They'll be on the clock at 4:35 Pacific time.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) June 25, 2015
This is probably bad news for D’Angelo Russell, as he reportedly doesn’t want to play in Philadelphia.
With all the flip-flopping back and forth, it’s impossible to tell who the Lakers will take. Right now it seems like it will be Okafor, but according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, that decision still isn’t set in stone.
Lakers "undecided " on No 2 pick. Russell/Okafor both in play. Kupchak will make final call and he keeps things very close to vest
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 25, 2015
Who knows what the Lakers will do? They will likely take either Russell or Okafor, both of whom project to be terrific NBA players. That trade with the Kings is still on the table as well, although it has hit a snag.
