The Los Angeles Lakers are expecting retirement for Kobe Bryant after this season, as general manager Mitch Kupchak said that the star likely would be done and coming into the draft the team is targeting names like Karl-Anthony Towns, D'Angelo Russell, Emmanuel Mudiay and Jahlil Okafor to help give Bryant one last run with the team in LA.
The Lakers made the most significant jump in the draft lottery and many draft experts see the number two pick as the best position in the first round. Getting the first pick is great, but with two strong prospects at the top in Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns, there is always pressure on the team to get the pick right. Towns and Okafor could both end up as strong players, but there is always a chance for bust potential and that puts immense pressure on the Wolves. The Lakers can sit back and see who falls to them, with Chad Ford at ESPN projecting that it will be Towns.
According to ESPN.com, most draft experts see Okafor and Towns as the best prospects in the draft and coming into the season, Okafor was looked at as the presumptive number one pick. Towns established himself in the NCAA tournament as a rival for number one and now scouts have to decide who has the better upside. Marc Stein at ESPN said that if Towns and his camp want to end up in Los Angeles, they could be crafty with their workouts and meeting with the Timberwolves if they take any at all.
The Lakers could be headed into some major transition, as Kobe Bryant may retire after the season. According to general manager Mitch Kupchak, Bryant likely will be done after this year, saying that "this is likely Kobe Bryant's last season" but that "he is willing to reassess in a year." Bryant is getting up there in age and he has dealt with serious injuries over the past couple years, forcing him into playing just 35 games last season.
Bryant has been supportive of the front office and their plans for rebuilding, but he obviously would love one more run in the playoffs if he can stay healthy. Last year the team added Julius Randle in the draft and he missed most of the season with an injury and now the team has the chance to add another Kentucky big man to the mix. Bryant was averaging 22 points before going down last season and he looked good coming back from his Achilles injury before dealing with a shoulder issue.
The Lakers are planning to be active in free agency this summer and they will have a lot of money to work with. The team is expected to chase after Goran Dragic, LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol and Rajon Rondo, while Reggie Jackson, Brandon Knight and DeAndre Jordan could be potential options. The Lakers obviously can't sign all of those players, but Kupchak likely will cast a wide net to ensure that the team added at least one or two notable names to the roster. The Lakers have the number two pick and reports have the team intrigued in Emmanuel Mudiay, but for a betting man: either towns or Okafor will be the likely pick for LA.
