Report: Lakers front office leaning toward Russell over Okafor with No. 2 pick
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The Los Angeles Lakers may soon have their point guard of the future.
The increasing likelihood is that the Lakers will select Ohio State point guard D'Angelo Russell with the No. 2 pick in Thursday's NBA Draft, according to Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding.
While earlier reports pegged Duke big man Jahlil Okafor as the team's likely target, Ding reports that momentum and consensus in the Lakers' front office have shifted towards Russell.
Citing team sources, Ding adds that Okafor may have hurt his cause with a disappointing second workout for the Lakers, while Russell's impressive shooting in his second workout boosted his own.
With the Lakers linked to DeMarcus Cousins and LaMarcus Aldridge in trade and free agency rumors, respectively, reports that the legendary franchise is now leaning away from a big man with their top-two pick makes you wonder if they know something the rest of the basketball world doesn't.
If @KevinDing says it's Russell for the Lakers, they have a big in their back pocket via free agency/trade.... https://t.co/ZoXLa2pYRc
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) June 25, 2015
Having said that, the Lakers' potential decision to go with Russell over Okafor may simply come down to who the front office views as the best long-term player, as it should.
Russell is a sweet-shooting lead guard who has drawn lofty - and obviously premature - Stephen Curry comparisons. Okafor is an offensive big man of a bygone era, a plodding post presence with defensive deficiencies.