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Lakers Trade Rumors: Team Reportedly Shopping No. 2 Pick in 2017 NBA Draft
June 15, 2017
The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly remain active in their efforts to shop the second overall pick ahead of the 2017 NBA draft on June 22.
On Thursday, Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times reported a source said the Lakers are "taking and making calls about trading the pick."
Although the mainstream discussion immediately following the draft lottery made UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball seem like a lock for L.A., the front office has never backed up that sentiment.
In May, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said the team would explore the idea of trading the pick, but noted the price tag would be sky high, per Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News.
"The probabilities are quite low at the one or two [draft spots]," Pelinka said. "That doesn't mean we don't explore it. But this pick has extraordinary value."
Another sign the Lakers' decision hasn't been made is the changing tune of the Ball camp.
LaVar Ball, the outspoken father of the UCLA standout guard, originally told Ryan Ward of Lakers Nation his son would only work out for the Lakers. Chris Haynes of ESPN.com later reported a workout with the Philadelphia 76ers, owners of the No. 3 pick, had become a possibility.
Meanwhile, the Lakers have been heavily linked to Indiana Pacers small forward Paul George dating back to before the trade deadline. Sam Amick of USA Today provided further details in February:
The question is whether Los Angeles' front office would be willing to trade a valuable asset like the No. 2 pick to get George now when he can decline a player option in his current contract to become a free agent next summer.
Ultimately, the Lakers have a myriad of different scenarios to consider over the next week and apparently trading the second selection is still very much on the table.