Things could get quite interesting in Los Angeles if the Lakers land a high draft pick.
The Lakers are said to be enamored with point guard Lonzo Ball and would likely draft him if they were in a position to do so, according to ESPN’s Chad Ford (via Silver Screen & Roll).
Ford reportedly believes the Lakers would have UCLA’s Ball atop their draft board, followed by Washington’s Markelle Fultz and Kansas’ Josh Jackson.
Ball has long expressed an interest in playing for the Lakers, which are his hometown team. Magic Johnson has expressed a desire to bring starpower to the Lakers, and Ball would deliver that. They would seemingly be a perfect match.
But there is one big problem.
The Lakers won’t know until the NBA Draft lottery whether they will be in a position to even pick a top player. The Sixers own the rights to the Lakers’ first-round pick, but it is top-3 protected. That means the Lakers will get to keep the pick if they land in the top three spots in the draft. If their lottery pick falls outside the top three, it will go to Philly.
The Lakers also hold the No. 28 pick thanks to a trade with Houston. For what it’s worth, Magic Johnson has already assured Luke Walton that the team will keep its top-3 pick.
