Recent Lakers rumors have been about who the team will be taking in the NBA Draft. Could the Boston Celtics shake the draft up?
As we get closer to the NBA Draft, there have been plenty of Lakers rumors. With the second overall pick, the Los Angeles Lakers have been working out with most of the top prospects.
Recently, Chad Ford of ESPN.com said that the Boston Celtics could certainly shake this draft up. For most of the draft process, it has been assumed that the Celtics were going to be taking point guard Markelle Fultz with the first pick. However, Ford recently talked about Josh Jackson going first overall instead. Here’s what he had to say about Jackson going first.
"“I’ve picked Danny’s brain for years,” one GM said. “Jackson is an Ainge player all the way. Tough, athletic, long, versatile, elite motor. If he’s keeping the pick, Jackson just to me, far and away, is the most Celtics-type player for them to draft. From all my conversations with them, I’m convinced they’ll take Jackson No. 1.”"
Seeing Jackson’s named mentioned as the potential first overall pick is certainly surprising. Jackson recently canceled a workout with the Celtics, which doesn’t make sense if they are truly interested.
However, taking Jackson over Fultz does make sense to a degree for the Celtics. With an All-Star point guard in Isaiah Thomas already, the Celtics would be better suited adding a frontcourt player ideally.
While Jackson is certainly a good player, he hasn’t been ranked as the top prospect in the class like Fultz. If the Celtics are indeed interested in Jackson being taken first, this would have huge ripple effects in the first round.
The Lakers could all of a sudden have the choice between Fultz and Ball. Seeing how Fultz did recently come in for a workout in L.A., he might know that being selected by Boston isn’t a sure thing like we all thought.
Next: Who do the Lakers land in our complete first round mock draft?
For the Lakers, getting Fultz second overall would be great for the franchise. As a point guard who can pretty much do it all, the Lakers might be getting a true potential franchise player if Boston passes on him.