NBA Mock Draft 2017: How the top ten will pan out after the lottery

After Boston makes the initial selection in the NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers will be left with a statement to make.

Not taking UCLA phenom Lonzo Ball means that they’ve evaluated a better prospect through the combine, prospect interviews, and other means of evaluation that will help them more in the long run.

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De’Aaron Fox found his sweet spot also in March Madness. This year’s tournament allowed him to show scouts and NBA teams watching the then-potential first round pick what he can do.

Out of these achievements, the one he holds most is a dominant one on one performance over Lonzo Ball. Fox’s Kentucky Wildcats eliminated Ball’s Bruins in the Sweet 16 in large part due to Fox’s big game.

Lonzo has also declined the NBA Combine as well as an appearance at the lottery.

Some will say that it was just one bad game and Lonzo shouldn’t suffer because of it. If that’s the case, the Lakers wouldn’t be looking into guys like Fox before making their final decision.

Los Angeles has reportedly narrowed their list down to four guys, though. Two of them being Ball and Fox.

They need to think long and hard about this decision. It’s their third straight shot at the draft picking second.

Messing this up means big problems for the future of the Lake Show.