Lakers Rumors: L.A. More Intrigued With Markelle Fultz & Josh Jackson Than De’Aaron Fox

Trevor Lane
3 Min Read
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers may have the second overall pick in the NBA Draft, but they don’t appear to be certain about what to do with it just yet. After the draft lottery revealed that they had the second pick back in May, the general consensus has been that Lonzo Ball would be their choice, but recent weeks have thrown that into question.

It seems as though, with each new rumor, the case for alternative picks like Josh Jackson and De’Aaron Fox keeps getting stronger. Ball worked out for the Lakers on Wednesday but reportedly did not seal the deal to be the second pick. If they don’t take Ball, Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report has reported that Los Angeles is more interested in Jackson and Markelle Fultz than they are Fox:

The Lakers remain intrigued by Markelle Fultz and Josh Jackson, and to a lesser extent De’Aaron Fox, along with Ball for their No. 2 overall pick.

If this report is correct, the implication would be that the Lakers’ big board would currently have Jackson, Ball, and Fultz in some order as the top three, with Fox falling fourth or lower. That said, there are tons of smoke screens this time of year, so all rumors have to be taken with a grain of salt.

When he worked out on Wednesday, Ball generated an absolutely massive media presence, which is an indication of just how popular and marketable the Southern California kid could be in a Lakers uniform.

Los Angeles decision-makers flew up to Sacramento to watch Jackson workout on Thursday in a very different setting with little media presence.

Fultz, meanwhile, is largely thought to be the first overall pick selected by the Boston Celtics, but with new rumors emerging that he may work out for the Sacramento Kings, who have the fifth pick, one has to wonder if a trade is in the works. Should he fall to the second pick, one would have to imagine that the Lakers would be very interested.

The NBA Draft is on June 22nd, and that’s where we will finally get certainty over just who will end up getting their name called when the Lakers pick is in.

Trevor Lane is a longtime NBA and Los Angeles Lakers fan who had the good fortune to grow up during the glory days of the Showtime Lakers, when Magic Johnson, Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and the rest ruled the Great Western Forum. He has written about basketball, soccer, fantasy sports, MMA, and even pro wrestling over the course of his career, but the spectacle that is the Lakers is his true passion. He made the leap into podcasting for Lakers Nation and provides voice-over analysis for our YouTube channel. With a who's who of stars gracing the Lakers lineup over the years, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and many others, the Lakers always provide plenty to talk about. When he isn't writing or recording, Trevor can be found spending time with his wife and daughter or on the sidelines for one of the youth teams he coaches. Outside of the Lakers, Trevor is a supporter of the LA Galaxy, US Soccer, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Contact: trevor@mediumlargela.com
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