Recently, there has been some rumblings about the potential for the Los Angeles Lakers to trade the second overall pick in the upcoming 2017 NBA Draft. It was reported that the Lakers not only have fielded calls about the pick but have even offered their own deals.
It is unknown who exactly they have been talking to, but one potential team could be the Phoenix Suns. According to ESPN’s Chad Ford (Insider), the Lakers have had internal discussions about dropping a couple of spots in the draft:
The Lakers held internal discussions about trading back two spots to No. 4 if the Suns were to offer them a 2018 first-round pick. The Suns hold their own 2018 pick (which currently projects to be a high lottery pick) as well as the rights to the Miami Heat’s 2018 pick. The latter pick is top-seven-protected in 2018 but unprotected in 2019.
The idea of getting a first-round pick next year has to be intriguing for the Lakers as their own pick belongs to the Philadelphia 76ers. And they believe that one of their favorite prospects may still be available if they drop:
The Lakers believe that Ball or Jackson might be available at the No. 4 spot. If not, the Lakers are still very high on Fox and Tatum, and believe that securing an additional prospect might be worth dropping two spots in the draft.
The big question is whether the Suns would be willing to part with one of those draft picks to move up two spots. It’s a pretty big price to pay, but if they fall in love with a particular player, they may be willing to do it.
For the Lakers that would mean potentially giving up their chance to draft someone they really like such as Ball or Jackson. The extra pick next year could be worth it, however, and these are the decisions Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka will have to figure out over the next week until the draft finally takes place.