The LA Lakers have the number two pick in the draft this year and players like Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay are the top targets for the team and this comes as players like LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Monroe and Goran Dragic could be free agent targets for Los Angeles with Kobe Bryant likely retiring soon.
The Lakers were the big winners in the draft lottery, as they moved from fourth worst in the standings to the number two overall pick. The Minnesota Timberwolves won the draft lottery ahead of the Lakers and the 76ers have the third pick in front of the NY Knicks. Most draft experts have Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Town as the top two players in the class and they could end up going one-two for Los Angeles and Minnesota.
Mike Trudell reports at Lakers.com that general manager Mitch Kupchak has identified "four to eight players" that the team could consider with the pick. The Lakers could look at trading the pick if a strong offer came along, but with Okafor and Towns highly touted and the jump in the lottery, LA likely will sit and make the pick. The report says the team could consider making a move, as they traded and still got a strong player in Jordan Clarkson last year.
Pro Basketball Talk reports that the team is likely looking at Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, D'Angelo Russell, Emmanuel Mudiay and Justise Winslow as the main targets to start. Towns reportedly will not work out for any teams and this comes after Towns and Okafor skipped the NBA draft combine. The Lakers brought into the second round last year and got Clarkson and he has emerged as a starting option after making the All-Rookie team.
The Lakers have money to spend in free agency, as ESPN reports that the team could have over $20 million in cap space to spend. Kobe Bryant reported will be done after this season-at least that's what Mitch Kupchak thinks-and that could push the team to be very active this summer. Trades are possible, but with some strong free agents on the market, expect the Lakers and teams like the Knicks and Celtics to spend.
The Lakers reportedly are going to go after Rajon Rondo as well as Goran Dragic, while Greg Monroe, LaMarcus Aldridge and Marc Gasol are also targets. Gasol likely will remain in Memphis with the Grizzlies, but both Aldridge and Monroe are expected to seriously consider leaving their current teams. Aldridge could be an option, as the Blazers still have to pay Damian Lillard, while Monroe reportedly is a major target for the Knicks and could be an option for LA. Monroe just had a career season and he is in line for a max contract.