LA Lakers GM: 4-8 Players In Consideration For Second Pick, Don’t Be So Certain On Okafor Or Towns
Following a brutal 2014-2015 season that saw the Los Angeles Lakers posting their worst record in franchise history, Laker Land is pretty optimistic, as the team landed the No. 2 pick in the forthcoming draft. Most pundits figure that the Lakers’ pick is a foregone conclusion, but recent statements from Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak indicate that the Lakers just might be looking to prove the prognosticators wrong.
There’s been much rejoicing in Laker Land since the NBA Draft Lottery aired a short while ago. The No. 2 pick in the forthcoming draft means that the Lakers are just about certain to land some solid talent to bolster a woeful team. Currently, the top prospects are thought to be Jahlil Okafor of Duke and Karl Anthony Towns from the University of Kentucky. Both are big men, and both have relatively well-developed games that make them likely to have an immediate impact on an NBA team.
The prevailing wisdom is that the Minnesota Timberwolves will take either Okafor or Towns with the No. 1 pick – likely Towns – and that the Lakers will scoop up whichever big man the Timberwolves don’t take.
That’s the prevailing wisdom. Laker GM Mitch Kupchak, though, is apparently keeping his options open. ESPN‘s Mike Trudell tweeted on Tuesday (h/t: Lakers Nation) that Kupchak believes there are “anywhere from four to eight players” that could be in consideration for the No. 2 pick. The Lakers are reportedly keeping all options on the table at the moment, and they don’t appear to be entirely sold on the notion that they have to pick whichever of Towns or Okafor is left when their number comes up.
Kupchak said anywhere from four to eight players could be in consideration for the No. 2 pick. Keeping options open and broad right now.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) May 26, 2015
That may come as a surprise to a number of NBA pundits, what with the consensus being that Towns and Okafor are the top talents available. Whom might the Lakers be looking at other than the top two big men? Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters noted that Laker coach Byron Scott said the Lakers don’t feel pressured to take a big man at No. 2. Scott instead name-dropped D’Angelo Russell from Ohio State, noting that Russell was a “great point guard.” Rumor has it that the Lakers are also pretty high on Emmanuel Mudiay, who spent the last year playing in China.
When asked if the Lakers would feel pressure to take a big at No. 2, Scott said not necessarily & also mentioned Russell being a great PG
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) May 26, 2015
It does, though, look like the Lakers are going to hold onto that No. 2 pick. Asked if any team could entice the Lakers to trade away the pick, Kupchak told reporters that it “would have to be a heck of an opportunity for us to be doing something like that.”
The Lakers have three picks in the draft this year, with the No. 27 pick coming from Houston via the Jeremy Lin trade. The team has indicated that it might be difficult to bring in three rookies, so the Lakers could well trade away one or two of those picks.
The forthcoming draft isn’t the only reason Lakers fans have to be optimistic going into the offseason. The team is expected to aggressively court free agents like Kevin Love and and DeMarre Carroll. Also, Kobe Bryant will be returning from injury this fall, likely looking to make his last season count. Julius Randle will also be back from injury as well, and fans will finally get to see what the big man the Lakers drafted last year is capable of.
[Image: Jeff Gross, Getty Images]
