The latest buzz about the intriguing LA Lakers one day before the draft has them making their choice at no.2.
The Lakers are arguably the league's most popular team and they have a chance to redeem their franchise from three mediocre seasons.
With the retirement of Kobe Bryant, the team has to seek the new "face of the franchise." Ideally, they could sign a top free agent like Kevin Durant and continue their legacy of acquiring stars, but everyone knows the Lakers are no longer an offseason juggernaut. While they have their draft pick and a young core, they do not have any superstar anymore.
Thus, the options for the Lakers are wide open at this point. They have probably the easiest position in the draft since they will simply take whoever the Sixers leave behind. Apparently the Sixers are picking Ben Simmons which would mean the Lakers take Brandon Ingram if they keep the trade-and word has come out to confirm that that's exactly what they'll do.
In a joint report from draft guru Chad Ford and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, it has been confirmed that new head coach Luke Walton and the Lakers brass have indicated that Ingram is their choice if the Sixers select Simmons.
"The Lakers spent three hours huddled with new head coach Luke Walton on Tuesday night before signaling to multiple league sources that Ingram would be their choice if the Sixers select Ben Simmons with the No. 1 pick," the report stated.
This could end all the speculation that the Lakers could shock the league and pick someone else like Buddy Hield, Kris Dunn or Marquesse Chriss-all of whom worked out with the team.
That speculation has led to another rumor-that of the Lakers trading last year's no.2 pick D'Angelo Russell in exchange for another top 5 pick. But Russell himself was quoted by The Orange County Register refuting that.
"You hear trade talks," Russell said. "Then you get a text from your GM saying he trusts your work ethic and don't worry about it."
It was hard to see the logic of trading Russell