The 2016 NBA Draft is absolutely loaded with great talent, and the top three teams will each have a chance to pick a star of the future. Well, there are a number of rumors swirling since the lottery picks were determined, and there could be plenty of movement at the top. The Philadelphia 76ers have the number one overall selection, but there is a very good chance that the L.A. Lakers may end up giving them the number two selection as well.
When the lottery selections were made, the 76ers ended up with the number one overall and the Lakers received the second. That meant that Los Angeles would be able to hold onto their pick instead of having to send it away, and that gives them a lot of leverage one way or another.
The Boston Celtics ended up with the third overall selection by way of the Brooklyn Nets.
Now, it is decision time for the 76ers and they have a number of options on the table. Many expect them to take Benjamin Simmons out of LSU, but there is also the possibility that they could go with Duke’s Brandon Ingram as well. Either way, the 76ers will get a great player and so will the Lakers.
On the other hand, there is the distinct possibility that the Philadelphia 76ers could end up landing both of the top players in this year’s draft, and here is how.
L.A. Times states that the Lakers could end up trading away the second overall pick to help strengthen their roster with a veteran player. It’s no secret that the 76ers are looking to deal Jahlil Okafor away, and it could go to one of the other teams picking in the top three.
If not the Lakers, it’s very likely that the Boston Celtics could jump on that trade and send the third overall pick to Philly for Okafor. In his rookie season, the big center averaged 17.5 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks-per-game.
On Thursday, Jahlil Okaforwas named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team as reported by Liberty Ballers. Yes, he had some off-court issues and seemed to have problems on defense, but he still had an impressive rookie season and would instantly add strength to the starting line-ups for the Lakers or Celtics.
Now, if the Lakers were to trade away their second overall pick, they would still have another in the early part of the second round. They may not wait that long to have their first selection of the next generation of talent, though, and try to trade back up into the first round.
According to Christian Today , the Lakers were very impressed with Kentucky Wildcats freshman guard Jamal Murray who they recently interviewed.
The Los Angeles Lakers interviewed UK guard Jamal Murray Wednesday night and were impressed. Murray will not play or do interviews here.
— rickbozich (@rickbozich) May 12, 2016
Murray improved as his freshman season went on, and he proved to be a deadly three-point shooter at times. For the season, he shot over 40 percent from behind the arc and averaged 20 points-per-game for a Kentucky team that was absolutely loaded with talent.
Trying to trade back up to take Murray could come with a steep price, though, and that would likely mean the Lakers would need to trade away Jordan Clarkson. L.A. was hoping he would have shown more improvement, but they may already be at the point where they are ready to part ways with him and bring in Murray.
Many mock drafts, such as that from the official NBA website, have the 76ers taking Ingram, the Lakers taking Simmons, and the Celtics taking Dragan Bender from Israel. That’s simply going off of who they believe will be picked, but not factoring in any possible trades.
Sports Illustrated thinks that the 76ers will go with Simmons which will send Ingram to Los Angeles and then Murray to the Celtics.
The L.A. Lakers need to do a lot of work in the offseason in order to change what happened last year. With the number two pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, they could end up getting Benjamin Simmons or Brandon Ingram, but there are other options. If they make a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, it could be one for the ages and the Lakers could then set their sights on trading back up to take Jamal Murray from Kentucky.
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