Lakers Rumors: After Celtics-76ers trade the Lakers should pick Josh Jackson

As the 2017 NBA Draft gets closer and closer the Lakers rumors continue to grow. The latest rumors stem off of a deal between two other teams.

In case you missed it, the 2017 NBA Draft had its real first big deal and movement. The Boston Celtics did what everyone assumed would happen anyways and traded away the first overall selection. Boston traded the pick to the 76ers in exchange for the third overall pick and a future first round pick. This move has stemmed new Lakers rumors.

First of all, this deal was done solely for the 76ers to land point guard Markelle Fultz. Fultz is hands down the best scorer in this draft, and would be a great fit alongside Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid; if they’re healthy. This gives the 76ers their second consecutive first overall pick, allowing their fans to “trust the process.”

This is a great deal for the Boston Celtics as well. Fultz was the obvious first overall selection in this draft class, but he wasn’t a real fit on the Celtics. Boston did not need to add to their already crowded backcourt, so it would be a waste to draft Fultz. The perfect fit for Boston is Josh Jackson, the small forward out of Kansas.

Jackson would either serve as a sixth man for the Celtics, splitting time between small forward and shooting guard. While he may not be the best option on day one, as Fultz and Lonzo Ball are projected ahead of him, he does have the highest ceiling. The Celtics get exactly who they need, and a future first round pick.

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Well, that is assuming that the Los Angeles Lakers don’t select him. The popular consensus around the league is that the Lakers are going to snag Lonzo Ball to fill their playmaking void. Ball is a great fit for the Lakers, arguably the best in this draft class.

However, the team could shake everything up by drafting Josh Jackson. While this may be a childish game to play with their longtime rivals, the Lakers should draft Jackson in spite of the Celtics.

It would be foolish to draft Jackson merely to get at the Boston Celtics, I get that. At the end of the day, anyone the Celtics pick will likely be on the bench to start their career, and they would not really suffer from failing to land Jackson.

Yet, if the Lakers can get the Celtics to overpay for Jackson, then this deal is very much worth it. Imagine this: the Lakers pick Josh Jackson. The Celtics, not having a plan b, scramble around the planning room. They shoot the Lakers an offer for the third overall pick and the 76ers future first round pick.

Los Angeles would then come out the ultimate winners. They would get a future pick, which is huge as they do not have their pick next year, and they can still snag Lonzo Ball. It seems far-fetched and honestly, it is, but Magic Johnson may have a trick up his sleeve.

Next: Possible returns on a Julius Randle trade

At this point, all of the latest Lakers rumors are merely speculation. Nobody knows exactly what will happen until June 22 hits us. Until then, we must continue to wonder what the Lakers may do.