The Los Angeles Lakers need a lot of help right now but it seems that their sights are not on the top two names in the coming NBA Draft.
It is practically a no-brainer that this year's top pick could either be Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor but according to some analysts, the Lakers could pull off a surprise and go for the best available guard in the NBA Draft.
If this should hold true, the Lakers could very well pass up on the two big men and go for either Emmanuel Mudiay or D' Angelo Russell. The Lakers will be selecting second after the Minnesota Timberwolves and earlier belief is that they would be getting the big man that the T-Wolves will not be selecting. At least that was the prognosis before rumors of a guard preference cropped up.
The question is would that move be worth it? If the Lakers pass on whoever between Towns and Okafor would be remaining, you can be the Philadelphia 76ers will be a happy bunch.
At the moment, the Lakers do have Jordan Clarkson in tow and word has it that they will go after Rajon Rondo but at the right price. So if they indeed go for a guard, does this mean that there is no certainty that Rondo will be joining them?
Another scenario is for the Lakers to stay the course and using that pick as trade bait to a player who they really need.
Up front, the Lakers do have Julius Randle already and a center would be need. But with both Okafor and Towns standing only 6-foot-11, they may not necessarily be recognized as centers in the Lakers' book.
Just the same, it would be crazy and foolish to think that the Lakers would pass up on either player. Russell and Mudiay are good players but when you talk about the best of the best, Towns and Okafor are certainly the cream of the crop.
Come NBA Draft Day, it could all boil down to a choice – best player available or best player to fill in the team's need.
