NBA Draft Rumors: Lakers eyeing Julius Randle, Marcus Smart & Doug McDermott

The Los Angeles Lakers hold the seventh-overall pick in the draft and obviously hope to hit a home run with their pick this year.

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Chad Ford believes the Lakers will try to trade their pick, but if they hang on to it – they are eyeing three players – former Kentucky Wildcats’ power Julius Randle, former Oklahoma State Cowboys’ point guard Marcus Smart and former Creighton Blue Jays’ forward Doug McDermott.

"The Lakers keep shopping this pick but are struggling to find an All-Star caliber big in return. If the Cavs can’t get that type of player with the No. 1 overall pick, the Lakers are probably not getting it at pick No. 7. If the Lakers keep it, they’ll want a player who can come in and contribute from Day 1, and three players — Randle, Smart and Doug McDermott — seem to be the targets."

Randle is ranked as the draft’s fourth-best prospect according to Jonathan Givony of Draft Express. Randle, who measured in at 6’9″ and 250 pounds with a wingspan of 7’0″ at the NBA’s Scouting Combine, put up 15.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 50.0% from the field and 70.6% from the charity stripe.

Smart is ranked as the sixth-best prospect in the draft. He averaged 18.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game last season and shot 42.2% from the field, 29.9% from beyond the arc and 72.8% from the charity stripe. Smart measured in at 6’3.25 and 227 lbs. with a wingspan of 6’9.25.

McDermott finished a fantastic career by winning the Naismith Award as the country’s best player last season. He put up a career-high 26.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game for the Blue Jays. He shot 52.6% from the field, 44.9% from beyond the arc and 86.4% from the free throw line. He measured in at 6’7.75 and 218 lbs. with a wingspan of 6’9.25 He is ranked as the 10th-best prospect in the draft.

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