NBA Rumors: Latest on Jahlil Okafor, Team Draft Plans and More

It's an odd time for the NBA, as the rumor mill churns out fresh speculation. 

Sure, the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers continue to put on a show in the Finals, but in the background the teams making the most waves are legendary franchises such as the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers.

This time of year offers plenty of hustle and bustle on its own, but the fact those franchises continue to grind gears in rebuilding mode just heightens the drama around the offseason with the draft and free agency on approach.

To best keep up, let's take a look at the latest rumblings spit out by the mill.

The Lakers and a Key Free Agent

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

No, this doesn't deal with Kevin Love or some other would-be superstar the team would love to lure to town, righting the wrongs of the Dwight Howard era in one swoop.

Like it or not, 26-year-old Robert Sacre qualifies as a key free agent for the Lakers.

According to Shams Charania of RealGM, the Lakers will treat him like one, too: "The Los Angeles Lakers expect to pick up center Robert Sacre’s veteran-minimum team option, league sources told RealGM."

It makes perfect sense. The Gonzaga product is a strong role player who on an average of 16.9 minutes last season posted 4.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.6 blocks.

With Jordan Hill also in option limbo and Ed Davis a free agent, the Lakers need to be add depth under the basket. Julius Randle, last year's first-round pick, can't do it all on his own.

Even if the team adds another big man with the No. 2 pick, critical depth players like Sacre remain a priority right now. General manager Mitch Kupchak and the front office seem to concur.

Draft Movement for the Knicks?

The talk around the Knicks centers on how president Phil Jackson and the front office were the big losers of the lottery, landing at No. 4 in the order—meaning the team might not get a Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor but would need to choose between D'Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay instead.

How sad, right?

The Knicks will be fine no matter how the board falls, since adding a top-five rookie to help out Carmelo Anthony just increases the odds a big-name free agent would want to come to the Big Apple to help rebuild a legendary franchise.

Perhaps more interesting is how Jackson plans to build the depth. Charania seems to have an idea: "The New York Knicks are in active discussions offering cash considerations to acquire a draft pick in the late first-round to early second-round range, sources told RealGM."

Charania mentions the target may be a player such as Richaun Holmes, whom Sports Illustrated's Jake Fischer, among many others, considers a major sleeper:

It's a smart move for the Knicks no matter who the target is, considering the team needs as much depth as possible to round out what should be an improved starting crew.

Look at a team like the Cavaliers right now. Star power is great, but when depth becomes a big factor in winning games, only the deepest teams prevail.

Lakers Going Through the Motions?

About the No. 2 pick.

The Lakers will have a wealth of options when it comes to the slot, but some seem to believe Kupchak and Co. are just keeping up appearances at this point, having already decided which way to go.

According to SI's Chris Mannix, the team loves Duke's Jahlil Okafor: "The Lakers are going through the motions with other draft prospects—D’Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay have been in for workouts—but multiple league sources say L.A. is locked in on Okafor."

There's no arguing with the logic.

Okafor is one of the best offensive big men to enter the draft in a decade or more after averaging 17.3 points, 8.5 boards, 1.3 assists and 1.4 blocks last season. He's much better than Towns in this regard, with the main knock being his lack of current impact on the defensive end of the court.

For his part, Okafor made it clear he would love to join the Lakers, too.

"I'm coming from Duke University…where the entire atmosphere is about winning. … That's what the Laker organization is about, that's what I want to be part of," he said, via Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times.

It's the perfect match, should the Minnesota Timberwolves go in another direction with the first pick. Adding Okafor next to Randle solidifies things underneath the basket for years to come and allows the organization to pursue star free agents to fill the backcourt.

It's hard to whiff with the No. 2 pick, especially with a talent like Okafor ready to come to town and make a difference.

All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.