Lakers rumors: Not sold on Lonzo Ball; 3 other potential top-three picks emerge
By Asha Doucet
There is just one week left before Magic Johnson and all of Laker Nation find out if the Los Angeles Lakers will keep their top-three protected pick. Here are three potential targets not named Lonzo Ball.
Although Lonzo Ball is considered to be one of the best prospects coming out of this year’s draft—most likely at No. 1 or No. 2 overall —Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report has established that the Los Angeles Lakers do not think of Ball as their “savior.”
If L.A. does not jump at Ball, they are likely to go after Washington point guard Markelle Fultz, Kansas forward Josh Jackson or Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox.
Fultz is also a top-two prospect, but the Lakers will actually have an opportunity to get to know him at the NBA draft combine, unlike Ball, who has chosen not to attend.
If the Lakers are mulling over the choice between the two, Fultz’s appearance could give him the edge in the minds of general manager Rob Pelinka, president of basketball operations Magic Johnson and head coach Luke Walton, who will all be present.
Fox is another player on L.A.’s list who will attend the combine and has the chance to show the Lakers who he is as a person.
Both Johnson and Pelinka were in attendance at the NCAA tournament regional semifinal game where Fox manhandled Ball, so they already have a good idea of his potential as a player.
Ding reports that Fox and Jackson (who will not attend the combine) may actually be garnering more interest from the Lakers than Ball or Fultz because of their defensive upside.
Jackson is considered to be a great defensive weapon projected to go No. 3 overall, while Fox plays aggressively on defense and has undeniable athleticism that will translate well in the NBA.
"With the third-worst record in the NBA last season, the Lakers are believed to be open-minded to the possibility that Jackson or Fox could be an even better choice than one of the current consensus top two, Ball or Fultz. -Kevin Ding"
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Of course, none of these players’ upsides or getting to know them personally will matter if the Lakers’ pick falls out of the top three. They have a 46.9 percent chance of keeping it, but if the basketball gods aren’t hovering over L.A., the Lakers have to go into backup plan mode.
Hopefully, the Lakers do hang onto it because no matter who they pick it will give them another potential cornerstone piece to build around making the team a continued work in progress, yes, but perhaps a contender in years to come. At the very least, more assets mean more options for the Lakers when making trades.
Either L.A. trusts the process and rebuilds through the draft or they go after stars in their prime; one way or the other they have to improve, and that starts with the lottery.
Must Read: Lakers Front Office Must Be Patient
Do you think the Lakers should go after Lonzo Ball if they keep their pick? If the Lakers move away from Ball, who is the next best option for them? Let us know what you think in the comments below.