NBA Mock Draft 2016: Who Do the Lakers Select?

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; D'Angelo Russell (Ohio State) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number two overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; D'Angelo Russell (Ohio State) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number two overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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Mar 26, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) cuts down the net after a West Regional final in the NCAA Tournament against the Oregon Ducks at the Honda Center.Oklahoma defeated Oregon 80-68. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) cuts down the net after a West Regional final in the NCAA Tournament against the Oregon Ducks at the Honda Center.Oklahoma defeated Oregon 80-68. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Speaking of players that improved their draft stock a great deal over the past year by going back to school, Buddy Hield of the Oklahoma Sooners is now the poster child of that. After being considered a fringe lottery pick at the end of his junior year, Hield went back to Norman with the intention of becoming a more complete player and he undoubtedly accomplished that as one of the most electrifying forces in all of college basketball.

Minnesota is once again picking in the lottery, but they have the components and the feeling of a team that may not be back in this position after next season if they add the right pieces through the draft and free agency. If you ask me, Hield could definitely be a part of that puzzle this summer as he’s the type of player that they could wholly use as they look to reach another level.

Obviously the Timberwolves already have some fantastic young player in house with the likes of Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, and Zach LaVine that are going to be huge. However, Hield could come into the backcourt as a combo-guard and really be a two-way threat and an offensive spark for the Wolves. The fit and what Hield would bring to the team is so intriguing—enough so that I think they’d have to take him if he were there.

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