Heading into the NBA Draft, most mock boards have the Los Angeles Lakers taking either Jahlil Okafor or Karl-Anthony Towns. One of those two players is expected to go No. 1 overall while the other would go to the Lakers with the No. 2 pick. However, that might not be a total lock as Los Angeles continues to explore their options. Could the Lakers make a move for a point guard in the draft rather than targeting one in free agency?
According to NBC Southern California, the Lakers are scheduled to workout both Emmanuel Mudiay and D'Angelo Russell before the draft. There is growing belief that the Lakers could favor a young point guard as they lose Steve Nash and Jeremy Lin. That leaves them with Jordan Clarkson who had a strong rookie season, but is not yet to be considered a home run hit. The question is whether or not Russell and Mudiay are those type of players as the Lakers' point guard rotation would be very young next season.
Throughout the offseason, it has been assumed the Lakers were going to try and sign Rajon Rondo, but talk around the star has grown quiet since his dramas with the Dallas Mavericks were put on full display. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers are not banking on Rondo nor are they putting their eggs in the Goran Dragic basket. The team's radar could be falling on Patrick Beverley who will be a restrict free agent with the Houston Rockets. Beverley is one of the better defending point guards while growing his offensive game. He is young, but comes with good experience that would benefit the development of Clarkson.
There are also trades the team can explore. The Denver Post reports Ty Lawson is available. The Detroit Free Press believes Brandon Jennings might be an option. Brandon Knight and Reggie Jackson would also be available at a cheaper price. The Lakers could favor a point guard they do not have to pay max money to in order to focus that contract on someone else.
Marc Stein of ESPN reports the Lakers want to give Jimmy Butler a max contract and pair him with Kobe Bryant. They have also eyed Greg Monroe and Marc Gasol who will command the same type of money. The Lakers have cap flexibility over the next two seasons and with the No. 2 draft pick, they could be setting themselves up for a good future.
