After suffering the worst win percentage in franchise history, the Los Angeles Lakers head into the 2015 NBA Draft with the 2nd, 27th and 34th picks. While the Lakers have worked out numerous prospects, it appears they will choose between Jahlil Okafor and D’Angelo Russell.
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Heading into the draft, there is an increasingly likelihood the storied franchise will select Russell according to Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding:
If the Los Angeles Lakers draft Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell on Thursday night, as is the increasing likelihood, it will be for one simple reason.
While the Lakers have always won championships with big men, the front office believes Russell is the star in this year’s draft:
Although the Lakers respect Jahlil Okafor’s size and skill (his defensive potential, not so much), momentum and consensus have been growing in the front office that Russell, not Okafor, is the special one.
At the NBA Draft Lottery, the Lakers had a 17 percent chance of losing their pick to the Philadelphia 76ers. However, Los Angeles was the only team to move and traded spots with the New York Knicks for the second overall pick.
While there will be mixed reactions regardless of who the Lakers select, they will be adding another talented prospect to go along with Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson.
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