Lakers Rumors: Latest Buzz on Los Angeles' 2014 NBA Draft Plans

The Los Angeles Lakers don't often have a lottery pick, so when it happens, nobody really knows what to think. With the 2014 NBA draft less than an hour way, rumors continue to swirl as to what the Lakers will do.

At least Lakers fans can count out the prospect of a trade. Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times reported that Los Angeles will likely hold onto the No. 7 overall pick:

A trade would position the Lakers to be more competitive in the immediate future. If they offloaded their pick, they'd probably get back one or two veteran players who could be slotted into the rotation right now.

However, Los Angeles should start looking to the future rather than limping along in the short term.

Sure it would be great if the Lakers can get Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook or whomever else in free agency. That shouldn't be the plan, though.

What the Lakers need to do is make the most of this draft position and select a young player who can be a cornerstone for years to come.

The question then would be: Whom does Los Angeles take?

Yahoo Sports Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Joel Embiid could be targeted if he's still around by the seventh pick:

That falls in line with what Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News reported last week:

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The Lakers would consider selecting Embiid should he become available, according to a person familiar with the Lakers’ thinking. But such an idea would hinge on Embiid’s recovery.

The Lakers are mindful of the risk in selecting Embiid considering his recent back injury and his current foot fracture. But they are also aware of Embiid’s upside, with various draft experts likening him to Hall of Famer center Hakeem Olajuwon.

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Few players in this draft are riskier than Embiid. By now, everybody's discussed the impact of his foot injury. While it may come to nothing, it's yet another health problem for the Kansas freshman.

If Embiid falls out of the top five, he's well worth the gamble. Talented big men are very hard to find, and even in a time when the traditional back-to-the-basket post player is becoming outmoded, having Embiid would put the Lakers ahead of the pack.

The only problem is that he might not be around by the time the Lakers are picking. Wojnarowski reported that the Philadelphia 76ers are considering selecting Embiid:

The Orlando Magic at No. 4 and Boston Celtics at No. 6 could also be possible landing spots.

Los Angeles may have to settle for somebody like Julius Randle, Aaron Gordon or Marcus Smart. Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times and Basketball Insiders thinks that Elfrid Payton may even be thrown into the mix:

By the looks of Pincus' tweet, the Lakers aren't very high on Smart.

That sentiment was echoed by ESPN's Chad Ford, who reported that L.A. could draft the Oklahoma State point guard, but the team is far from enamored with him:

The beauty of the Lakers' position is that they can draft any number of players who would be an upgrade to what the team currently has. They have a lot of flexibility with the selection, and they have almost no chance of blowing it.