Lakers Rumors: Could Timberwolves & Lakers Swap Picks?

The Los Angeles Lakers have to play the waiting game until June 25th. The Minnesota Timberwolves are in the driver’s seat and everybody else in the NBA is left to wait for them to make the pick.

-== How The Top 5 NBA Prospects Fit With The Lakers ==-

It seems the consensus number one pick is Kentucky big man, Karl-Anthony Towns. However, Flip Saunders reportedly favors Duke big man Jahlil Okafor, which would leave the Lakers with Towns, the player they’ve wanted all along.

It’s hard to believe Minnesota would pass on Towns, especially if they know the Lakers are eager to scoop him up. Could Saunders and the Wolves leverage Towns to get some more assets? According to Chad Ford of ESPN, the Timberwolves could swap picks with the Lakers and add another asset to improve this struggling franchise:

"Let’s see what happens when they come in to visit with the team. I don’t think the Wolves will get to see them workout together, and both guys are impressive off the court. But we’re still three weeks away. Lots of homework going on. I think the Wolves will eventually decide to take him 1, or perhaps swap with the Lakers and try to pick up another asset."

If the Wolves are really in favor of Okafor, this makes a lot of sense. They hear all the buzz around Towns and could use that to their advantage. Do the Lakers really want Towns that bad? If the answer is yes, then they should obviously consider trading up to number one slot.

Ford does acknowledge that he thinks the Timberwolves will take Towns with the first pick, but swapping the picks will get the Timberwolves another asset like a future draft pick or maybe somebody on the current Laker roster.

Minnesota has some good young pieces in place, but they need a lot of help to contend in the Western Conference. This could get interesting as we approach the draft.