Now that the Los Angeles Lakers have secured the second overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the question has moved toward whether or not the team will keep the pick. General Manager Mitch Kupchak has always been one to keep all of his options open.
The natural move would be to draft which of the top two prospects the Philadelphia 76ers don’t take in LSU’s Ben Simmons or Duke’s Brandon Ingram, but nothing is ever guaranteed.
Kupchak said that the team hadn’t immediately discussed trading away the draft pick, and according to David Aldridge of NBA.com, very few around the NBA expect Los Angeles to do so:
Few expect the Lakers to move the pick, after all the angst they had to go through this year to secure it.
The key to any potential Lakers trade would be what players are available to be acquired. If there is an established superstar available, Los Angeles would have to at least explore the possibility. Anything other than that, likely wouldn’t be too attractive to Kupchak and company, however.
If the Lakers do keep their pick, signs seem to be pointing toward Ingram being there for the Lakers at number two. The Lakers would reportedly be thrilled to land the sharp-shooting small forward, and he is already impressing in workouts before meeting with teams individually.
Just because something isn’t expected to happen doesn’t mean it can’t. Both Simmons and Ingram have superstar potential, and a team could be willing to pay a large price for them. The Sixers aren’t expected to deal which could lead to many teams calling the Lakers hoping for a shot. The Lakers will certainly be a team to watch heading into June’s draft.