Fansided

2014 NBA Draft Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers like Noah Vonleh, Doug McDermott

By Andrew Melnick

Jan 14, 2014; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Noah Vonleh (1) warms up before the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2014; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Noah Vonleh (1) warms up before the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

After suffering through a very rare losing season that put them in the lottery, the Los Angeles Lakers hold the seventh-overall pick in next month’s draft.

One report surfaced just after the lottery that the Lakers are interested in former Kentucky Wildcats’ power forward Julius Randle, former Oklahoma State Cowboys’ point guard Marcus Smart and Croatian forward Dario Saric.

They also could look to trade their pick in attempt to acquire Minnesota Timberwolves’ star power forward Kevin Love or perhaps, packaged with other assets, to trade up for former Kansas Jayhawks’ center Joel Embiid.

Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders believes former Creighton Blue Jays’ forward Doug McDermott and former Indiana Hoosiers’ big man Noah Vonleh are also on the radar for the Lakers.

"The smart money says the Lakers stay right where they are and draft the best player at seven. That looks to be one of Smart, Vonleh or Randle with the possibility of McDermott and Saric on the outside of the bubble.Smart makes the most sense going forward because he can play right away. Vonleh may have some serious upside and could be a nice anchor piece for the Lakers future but will need some time to develop, where Randle could be the best all-around player of the bunch."

No matter what they wind up doing, the Lakers are confident they can acquire a good player.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers