2014 NBA Draft Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers eyeing Marcus Smart, Julius Randle, Dario Saric

Apr 5, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Julius Randle (30) celebrates after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the semifinals of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /

Many fans around the NBA seemed quite please when the Los Angeles Lakers did not move into the top three during the 2014 NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday night. In fact, they actually moved down a spot because of the Cleveland Cavaliers rise to the top pick. The Lakers, who had the sixth-worst record, will pick seventh.

The Lakers reportedly covet former Kansas Jayhawks’ forward Andrew Wiggins and Australian point guard Dante Exum, but without moving into the top three, landing either one of those players is very unlikely.

According to Chad Ford of ESPN.com, three players the Lakers could pursue in the draft are former Kentucky Wildcats’ power forward Julius Randle, former Oklahoma State Cowboys’ point guard Marcus Smart and Croatian forward Dario Saric.

"Yeah, I think they are in the same boat as the Celtics. So much for a conspiracy theory to give the Lakers or Celtics the No. 1 pick. If Julius Randle or Marcus Smart are there, they are two players who I think could help them right now and could be intriguing. Dario Saric, if he was willing to come right now, would also be a guy they’d give a long look to."

Randle and Smart are known commodities, but Saric, who withdrew from the draft last year, could do so again this year.

(I have predicted the Lakers to land Smart)

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