D'Angelo Russell (Photo : Getty Images)
The NBA trade rumors have been the Carmelo Anthony show the past few days but the LA Lakers could be preparing for a surprise move.
It could be a minor move or it could be quite a blockbuster, but the LA Lakers are suspected to be tanking. There are many ways to put it, like prioritizing the development of their young players over getting actual wins, but the Lakers want to keep their draft pick before they have no choice (all protections are off in 2018).
To keep their pick, it has to be in the top three and the prospects are primarily guards. There is also proof that the Lakers are already making their due diligence. Lakers Nation already confirmed various tweets that at least two Laker representatives were present in the Kansas vs. Kentucky showdown.
That does not sound like a reason to assume a trade, but the idea is that the possible top three players in the draft are guards. Even the prospects in Kansas vs Kentucky game-except for Josh Jackson, the players of interest would be Malik Monk or D'Aaron Fox of Kentucky. This tandem is similar to D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson.
The NBA trade rumors about the Lakers have died down with their hot start but as they plummet to earth, near the cellar of the West, the prospect of tanking was brought up again.
What if the Lakers win the no.1 pick, and according to Chad Ford of NBA Insider, the mock draft, Markelle Fultz is a "can't miss" prospect. Will the Lakers pass up on him simply because of the logjam at the guard position?
Ford raved about Fultz: "He does everything well and has no real holes in his game. At his size, he can play either backcourt position, and for a team that could really use some 3-point shooting, his 46 percent rate from deep this season is encouraging."
A combo guard with shooting, similar to both Russell and Clarkson, the guards of the young core. Perhaps the prospect they were checking out was Josh Jackson of Kansas, a small forward?
If the Lakers have the opportunity to get one of these players, will they trade off for a center or scoring big man-a position that they could not address in the draft (unless they trade down)? Or could they just trade one of Clarkson or Russell for a big man, like Nerlens Noel knowing that they could find a replacement at the draft? There are rumblings that the Lakers are not so satisfied with D'Angelo Russell in his sophomore year as expectations are really high on him.
The trade might have to wait until draft day after the lottery (they must keep their pick, and they also could not trade it because they have to give the Sixers a pick next year) before they make a move as it's highly unlikely they have a difference maker for a contender in this roster.
This is highly speculative at this point, but the Lakers are looking ahead and they have guards all around the 2017 NBA Draft.
