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NBA Draft Rumors 2016: Lakers ‘Enamored’ by Kris Dunn at No. 3

By Cody Williams

Mar 17, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Providence Friars guard Kris Dunn (3) celebrates on the court after defeating the USC Trojans 70-69 at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Providence Friars guard Kris Dunn (3) celebrates on the court after defeating the USC Trojans 70-69 at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Lakers are rumored to be in love with Providence guard Kris Dunn in the 2016 NBA Draft

When it comes to the first two selections in the 2016 NBA Draft, there are essentially two certain things that can be said. For one, the Los Angeles Lakers would love to have either selection in the draft as it’d help them continue rebuilding and would mean they keep their pick. Also for certain is that those two picks will be Ben Simmons out of LSU and Brandon Ingram out of Duke in some order.

However, the question of who the No. 3 overall pick is going to be is a bit more tricky. No prospect is really set in stone as the third selection and it could really depend on what team is picking at that spot. If the Lakers are picking there, though, they could be making a relatively shocking move in selecting Providence point guard Kris Dunn.

According to a report from Marc J. Spears of ESPN’s The Undefeated, the Lakers are “enamored” with Dunn and it seems he’d be their selection if LA didn’t get picks No. 1 or 2:

There’s obviously a bit to unpack here. For starters, it’s not hard to see why the Lakers would be so enthralled by the former Friars point guard. Dunn is an all-around player with great size that has the ability to score, facilitate, and defend at an NBA level already. He could be a high-impact player right away.

Perhaps more intriguing, though, is that the Lakers would be so quick to give up on D’Angelo Russell as a point guard and move him into a combo-guard role. That’s an interesting decision to be willing to make so early in Russell’s career.

However, the part that’s subtext in all of this is potentially the fate of Jordan Clarkson. As Clarkson enters restricted free agency this offseason, the Lakers clearly have a tough decision to make as other teams are going to be willing to throw big contracts his way. Though LA will have the chance to match, that doesn’t make the decision any less tiresome.

Even still, the fact that the Lakers are considering a Dunn-Russell backcourt for the future could indicate that they aren’t willing to pay to keep Clarkson around or that they don’t see him as a starting option moving forward. Though Spears mentions a three-guard rotation, paying what Clarkson will likely have to be paid to keep him around seems an odd choice if things play out that way.

Next: Top 25 NBA Free Agents 2016: Who Could LA Sign?

This could all be irrelevant after the NBA Draft Lottery if the Lakers wind up losing their pick. Or they could trade back into the lottery in some way. Either way, this love for Dunn from the Lakers makes things quite interesting moving forward in the offseason.

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