After waiting anxiously for weeks, the Los Angeles Lakers finally found out that they would keep their draft pick at the NBA Draft Lottery. The Lakers remained in their draft spot, and will pick second which means they are in position to take whoever is left between LSU’s Ben Simmons and Duke’s Brandon Ingram.
Most draft experts are split as to who they believe will go first between the two, and each of them brings a completely different style of play.
According to Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding, however, the Sixers are leaning to towards Simmons which would leave Ingram to the Lakers, who were impressed in their interview with him at last week’s NBA Draft Combine:
That would set the Los Angeles Lakers up at No. 2 with Ingram, who already wowed them in his May 11 interview on opening day of the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. Ingram’s drive to be great and dedication to winning, according to sources, resonated deeply with the Lakers’ front-office contingent.
Ding also noted that the Lakers would be thrilled to land Ingram, and may believe he is better than Simmons regardless:
The sweet-shooting Ingram will be offered the chance to be so exceptional in a private workout that he shifts Philadelphia’s thinking, but as of now, it appears as though the Duke freshman will be available at No. 2. That would thrill the Lakers, who aren’t sure if Ingram isn’t better than Simmons.
That thinking would be contrary to prior reports that the Lakers were leaning towards Simmons ahead of Ingram. But with the draft lottery working out the way it did the choice is out of the Lakers hands.
The Lakers will likely shop the pick as well to at least see what they could potentially land for it, but grabbing Ingram would be a great move as well. Ingram’s skill set fits perfectly with the current group, and he fits a massive need at the small forward position. The Lakers are in great position to make a huge improvement this summer.
