The Lakers have become the most intriguing team at the top of the NBA Draft in recent weeks, as reports pour out of Los Angeles that they haven’t figured out what they want to do with the No. 2 overall selection next week. Lonzo Ball from UCLA remains the favorite to end up in the purple and gold, as he will hold his second workout with the Lakers on Friday, but Los Angeles is considering all possible other opportunities as well.
De’Aaron Fox and Josh Jackson both came into Los Angeles for workouts this week, and on Thursday the Lakers hosted projected top overall pick Markelle Fultz for a workout, even though he’s expected to be off the board and a member of the Celtics by the time L.A. gets on the clock.
While holding workouts with top prospects has been the order of business during the day for Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka, and Luke Walton, that’s reportedly not all they’re doing in preparation for when they get on the clock on June 22.
According to Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers have also explored trade possibilities by not only accepting calls, but making calls as well to gauge what value is out there for the pick.
In the month since [the lottery], however, the Lakers have been taking and making calls about trading the pick, said a source who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject. They’ve had scenarios presented to them, and offered their own.
This is the wise thing to do for the Lakers — you want to exhaust all options and have all pertinent information before making a decision like this — but it’s still a bit surprising to hear that they’re considering making a move. Lonzo Ball is an intriguing prospect and it would be interesting to see if someone would be willing to part ways with a current star in order to reset and start a rebuild around Ball. It would also be incredible to watch the Ball family react to a trade in real time as they realize he won’t be on the Lakers.
Paul George would be the one that makes the most sense in this scenario, but that said, as in all the trade rumors that have swirled since we first learned of Paul George being potentially available from Indy, it makes little sense for the Lakers to move any pieces to Indiana in exchange for George when all indications are that he will sign in L.A. next offseason.
Figuring out value is one thing, but I would still remain stunned if the Lakers pulled off a trade on draft night involving the No. 2 pick — their second first round pick at No. 28 could very well be a different story.
