2017 NBA Draft: Could the Kings snag Lonzo Ball away from the Lakers?
By Jason Reed
It wasn’t until Tuesday that the Los Angeles Lakers knew they would be keeping their first round selection in the 2017 NBA Draft.
The Los Angeles Lakers have had an anxious couple of months leading into the 2017 NBA Draft. Needing a top-three pick to keep their selection, the Lakers organization and its fans have been patiently waiting for the ping pong balls to bounce their way. Finally, the draft lottery took place, and the Lakers got exactly what they wanted.
With just under a 50% chance of keeping their own pick, the Lakers won the coin toss and ended up with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. The Phoenix Suns, who had the best odds at landing at number two, slid down to the fourth overall selection – making room for both the Lakers and 76ers (who owned their pick) in the top ten.
Speaking of the 76ers, there was another team that they were tied with in the draft lottery – the Sacremento Kings. The Kings and 76ers swapped first round picks, due to a Nic Staukas deal back in 2015, allowing the 76ers to snag the third overall selection – which would have been the Kings.
However, it is not all that bad for the Sacremento Kings. In the deal that sent DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Kings received promising guard Buddy Hield and the Pelicans first-round pick. That pick resulted in the Kings snagging both the fifth (76ers) and tenth (Pelicans) overall selection in the 2017 NBA Draft.
The Kings could still get some good talent at the fifth and tenth overall selection. Bringing in De’Aaron Fox at fifth overall would be a great acquisition, and with the tenth pick the Kings could bring in a big man such as Jarrett Allen out of Texas. However, this is not what should concern Lakers fans, instead, it is the prospect that the Kings could move up to number one.
The Boston Celtics currently hold the first overall selection in this year’s NBA Draft – a pick they likely will not hold on to. The Celtics do not need to bring in a first overall selection, as they could benefit more from trading it away.
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One of those trades could be to the Sacremento Kings, swapping the first overall pick for the fifth and tenth – giving the Celtics depth, something they need. If the Kings move up to first overall, there are two guys available; Lonzo Ball and Markelle Fultz.
While Kings fan may want to see the better scorer, Fultz, come to Sacremento and lead the team, the better move would be snagging up Lonzo Ball. The Kings would ultimately win the draft with this selection, as the Lakers would get desperate.
The Lakers want Lonzo Ball, that is without a doubt. There are two routes this could take, first the Kings could draft Ball and hold onto him, giving them a dynamic playmaker to build around. Or, the Kings could capitalize on the Lakers desperation, swap Ball for Markelle Fultz, adding in Larry Nance Jr.
With Julius Randle starting, Larry Nance Jr. has seen himself regulated to the bench. However, he holds tremendous upside and is an easier target to pursue as he is not a starter.
Overall, Laker fans may want to watch and see what the Kings are doing heading into the 2017 NBA Draft. Although it is unlikely, the Kings could perform highway robbery on the Lakers.