2017 NBA Draft: Los Angeles Lakers' Last-Minute Whiteboard
Thursday's NBA draft is rushing up fast, and the Los Angeles Lakers still have choices to make.
It will be the third year in a row that L.A. selects at No. 2—holding on each time through the luck of the draw to a protected pick that would otherwise go to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Lakers also have the No. 28 pick in the first round.
This time around will be different from years past, however. A new team president and general manager in Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka are in place alongside second-year head coach Luke Walton.
If the team had its druthers, it would likely snag Washington point guard Markelle Fultz. The presumed top overall choice worked out in Los Angeles on Thursday.
But any chance of that seemingly got snuffed when The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski dropped one of his patented bombshells—the Boston Celtics were on the verge of trading their No. 1 pick to the Sixers for their No. 3 plus future picks.
On Saturday, Fultz met with Philadelphia, checking off one more box on a blockbuster move. The exchange of draft picks became official on Monday, per Celtics.com.
Lakers fans shouldn't fret, though, because this is a draft class loaded with talent. In fact, it's so deep that Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times notes that L.A. has been "taking and making calls about trading the (No. 2) pick."
On the other hand, ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne reported Sunday that L.A. is "trying to acquire another first-round pick."
Regardless of rumors, the Lakers have specific needs: defense, the ability to stretch the floor and a true playmaker—D'Angelo Russell has shown that he's better suited as a 2-guard than running the point.
Pick No. 28: 3rd Option, Jordan Bell, PF, Oregon
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What do the Lakers need lots more of? Defense. What does Oregon's Jordan Bell bring? He was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year for 2017, that's all.
This dude is hyperathletic, can switch multiple positions on D, plays solid pick-and-roll and has the kind of open-court speed and awareness that would fit with Walton's system.
He's not big, measuring 6'8 ½" at the NBA Draft Combine, but has a nice 6'11 ¾" wingspan as compensation. The three-year man had solid stats this season with 10.9 points, 8.8 boards, 2.2 blocks and 1.3 steals. But his game is about more than numbers.
As Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman observes in his mock draft:
"His future role and identity are clear: Bell projects as an energizer and enforcer around the basket, where he finishes above the rim and protects it. The ability to switch defensively and pass only increase his value, which would get another boost if his mid-range jumper becomes consistent. Bell worked out for the Lakers and should be firmly on their radar at No. 28."
Bell wouldn't take major minutes away from Julius Randle or Larry Nance Jr. at the 4. But if he continues honing his shooting stroke, he could be an intriguing small-ball 5, perhaps subbing in for Ivica "Zublocka" Zubac, who also knows something about protecting the rim.
Pick No. 28: 2nd Option, Caleb Swanigan, C/PF, Purdue
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Caleb Swanigan has fought through a lot of adversity to become a fringe first-round draft possibility. The Purdue sophomore topped the NCAA with 28 double-doubles and was the Big Ten Player of the Year.
But Swanigan is on the short side for a power forward at 6'9" and even shorter for a small-ball center, which is probably where he'd fit best in the NBA. "Biggie" isn't lacking in sturdiness though—250 pounds, which is a whole lot less than his peak weight of 360 in eighth grade.
As ESPN.com's Myron Medcalf wrote in January, Swanigan's journey led him through homelessness, family tragedy and a "complicated relationship with food" before being adopted at age 13 by Indiana-based sports agent Roosevelt Barnes. That's when things started turning around.
These days, Swanigan is a relentless rebounder who averaged 12.5 boards per game this past season (a nine-foot standing reach doesn't hurt). Add to that a rather astonishing 44.7 percent from three-point range.
Imagine if Ben Wallace had a shooting touch. That's the kind of profile Swanigan could fit.
The Lakers already have Randle, Nance Jr. and Tarik Black taking turns at the 5 in small lineups. Swanigan would have his work cut out to crack the rotation. But his tough defense and scoring ability count in his favor.
Pick No. 28: 1st Option, Tyler Lydon, PF, Syracuse
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Tyler Lydon would fit a major position of need for the Lakers—he can flat-out shoot the ball.
The 6'10" power forward with a 7'0" wingspan isn't particularly powerful. But he can come off the bench and let it fly with a quick, overhead release that has plenty of snap on it. The sophomore from Syracuse averaged 13.2 points, 8.6 boards and 1.4 blocks this past season, making 39.2 percent of his three-pointers.
After his Lakers workout on June 11, Lydon emphasized his calling card along with other useful skills, per the Orange County Register's Mark Medina: "My ability to stretch the floor and shoot it as well as I can. I also feel like I can do more. I can put the ball on the floor and make plays for other guys, find guys when they’re open. Those things. At the end of the day, I'm trying to come in and play my game."
L.A. could very well lose its best outside shooter—regardless of position—if Nick Young opts out and signs elsewhere over the summer. And, despite the continuing efforts of players like Randall and Nance Jr. to expand their range, the frontcourt is conspicuously absent when it comes to natural floor-stretching ability.
Given his profile, Lydon could carve out a role in the NBA for years to come as a bench scorer. The Lakers might as well add him to their toolkit now with an affordable rookie contract.
Pick No. 2: 3rd Option, De'Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
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De'Aaron Fox is the dark-horse pick for the Lakers. But what a fun and wild ride he'd be.
He's brash, full of confidence and an absolute terror on defense. Who wouldn't love to see this kid unleashed on the league's top floor generals?
"I feel like I just attack everyone," Fox said after his L.A. workout, per Joey Ramirez for Lakers.com. "No matter who's in front of you—no matter if it's defense, offense, rebounding. Every aspect of the game, I just feel like I attack it."
The 19-year-old Kentucky freshman has good size for the position at 6'3" with a 6'6 ½" wingspan. At a buck-seventy, he'll need to muscle up. But he's got an explosive first step and is impossibly quick in the open court.
The knock on the lefty is his shooting, as he converted a meager 24.6 percent of his three-point attempts. Fox's stroke could stand to improve—he releases from the side of his head instead of above it.
Still, Fox has been working hard on that aspect of his game, stating that he's trying to turn a "weakness into a strength," per Mike Bresnahan of Spectrum SportsNet.
Fox famously outplayed Lonzo Ball in the Sweet 16, pouring in 39 points while holding Ball to just 10. But despite that, it's still a bit hard to envision a scenario in which Fox leapfrogs both Ball and Josh Jackson.
Pick No. 2: 2nd Option, Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas
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Should the Lakers use their prized lottery pick on a guy who duplicates Brandon Ingram's wing position and whose major strength is defense?
That's really the issue in a nutshell. Yes, Josh Jackson could conceivably play in the same lineup as Ingram. That according to the Jayhawk himself, who weighed in, per Medina: "When it's winning time, there is no five-man (center) on the court. There is no four-man (power forward) on the court. There is pretty much forwards and guards all playing at the same time. I don't really think me and Brandon playing in the same position would cause any problems. I think it would be really special."
But according to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, Jackson's second workout with the Purple and Gold "did not go well at all." Apparently, the one-and-done prospect from Kansas "struggled with his shooting and handle."
This has been the knock on the 20-year-old all along. He's a monster when it comes to guarding multiple positions, and he can score in bunches as well. But Jackson's offense has more to do with natural athleticism and transition opportunities than consistent shot mechanics (he was especially bedeviled at the charity stripe, converting just 56.6 percent of his attempts).
While partnering Ingram with a second multipositional forward is an intriguing idea, the rebuilding Lakers might be better served using their No. 2 pick on a much-needed playmaker.
Pick No. 2: 1st Option, Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
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On Monday, Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding reported that "the Lakers are nearing a final decision" to choose Lonzo Ball as their No. 2 overall pick.
But it's not a done deal until draft night and it's important to examine both the negatives and positives for the 6'6" freshman from UCLA.
Ball doesn't have the speed of Fox nor the defensive athleticism of Jackson. He also has a crooked sidearm jumper that begs to be crunched by seasoned defenders. But he gets that oddball shot off fast, and his 41.2 percent rate from downtown (at 5.4 attempts per game) has to count for something.
There's also the case of his father LaVar—the sports dad whose pronouncements come fast and furious. Lonzo trolled his pops in a Father's Day Foot Locker ad (h/t Adweek) and followed that up with a more heartfelt tribute via The Players' Tribune.
And then there was the first Lakers workout in which Ball reportedly looked out of shape followed by a second in which he more effectively showcased his training routine—ESPN.com's Shelburne summed it up.
Through it all, the 19-year-old seems determined to bring leadership skills to a team now overseen by his Showtime idol, Johnson.
"He's the best point guard who ever played and me being a point guard, I looked up to him my whole life," Ball said about Magic, per B/R's Eric Pincus. "I finally got a chance to meet him. It's just a blessing."
The natural playmaker filled the statsheet with 14.6 points, 7.6 dimes, 6.0 boards and 1.8 steals in his sole college season. His vision and full-court lob passes will fire up teammates in the NBA, leading to an avalanche of points. On the defensive end, he uses good instincts, quick hands and his length effectively.
Ball is just too much of an obvious choice to pass on.
Stats courtesy of Sports Reference. Measurements from DraftExpress.
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