The Los Angeles Lakers have plenty of pondering to do about their top pick for this year's NBA draft, including the possibility of trading it for Philadelphia 76ers rising center Jahlil Okafor.
There are many buzz going around the league about the Lakers' No. 2 pick, and the latest name to get thrown at the rumor mill is Okafor, who has been mentioned aplenty in trade speculations after the 76ers bagged home the top pick in the 2016 NBA draft. According to ESPN NBA Insider Chad Ford, the Lakers could trade their top pick for Okafor and the team's 2017 pick.
Okafor has experienced an up and down debut in the 2015-2016 season, but the incoming sophomore center still averaged 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game for the 76ers. Bringing in Okafor means adding another young raw talent in the Lakers' own core of youngsters. This may seem a great addition as it would give Los Angeles a scoring big man, but such deal may not be worth the No. 2 pick.
The Lakers have been reported to be looking at proven veteran stars like Jimmy Butler or Paul George who could instantly make a great impact to the franchise's efforts of once again becoming contenders in the league. Adding Okafor would not add the same star power as Butler or George could bring to the Lakers.
Moreover, Okafor, a poor defender, is not the type of big man the Lakers should be salivating at, despite his potential to become one of the best scoring big men in the NBA. This season, the Lakers were second in the league in points allowed in the paint with 47.7 points of the team's 106.9 points allowed per game. The Lakers were also dead-last in the league in defensive efficiency with 1.079 points allowed per 100 possessions.
However, Cody Williams of Lake Show Life still believes Okafor could make the Lakers better in terms of attracting top free agents this summer.
"Not only would that theoretically set the Lakers up better for the future, but acquiring Okafor also might make them a more attractive destination in free agency where they have a multitude of cap-room to operate with this summer," Williams wrote.
The Purple and Gold have not been an attractive destination for free agents in the past few seasons, but with the team having a projected $62.6 million in cap space, they are in pole position to be the favorites to land some of the top players in this year's free agency class. Okafor should make Lakers a desirable landing spot for free agents this summer, but, as mentioned above, the likes of Butler or George brings more to the table.
There is a chance the No. 2 pick could be Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram, two of the most promising talents in the rookie class. Any of them should bring the same type of impact Okafor could provide in whatever terms, which makes it a no-brainer to keep the pick or trade for a veteran star.