NBA Draft rumors: Lakers looking at De’Aaron Fox at No. 2 overall

Lonzo Ball could be fitted for his Lakers jersey before too long, but the team is still going to do some due diligence on other options.

Tuesday night’s lottery results have the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers holding the first two picks in next month’s draft. The Celtics may trade their pick but regardless, Washington guard Markelle Fultz seems sure to hear his named called first. That sets up a scenario where Los Angeles will likely take UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball, and his loquacious father LaVar has already suggested only working out for the Lakers.

One scenario which would theoretically keep Lonzo Ball from landing with the Lakers, obviously, is he gets drafted first overall by the Celtics or another team. But the Lakers may be forming a contingency plan by looking at other prospects.

Though he is a likely top-10 pick, the idea the Lakers would consider Kentucky guard De’Aaron Fox at all with the second overall pick is interesting. Jonathan Givony of Draft Express does add the team’s hope for a head-to-head workout with Ball, which is not too surprising.

Kentucky and UCLA played in the Sweet 16 of this year’s NCAA Tournament, with Fox (39 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals) outplaying Ball (10 points, eight assists and three rebounds) in a head-to-head matchup. Based on that alone, Father LaVar may not allow his son to workout with Fox in a one-on-one setting. From the Lakers’ perspective, it would be a possible measuring stick in their evaluation of Ball.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported Ball may workout for teams other than the Lakers, but that had not yet been decided.

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An attempt to orchestrate, with his dad’s input, being drafted by the Lakers could wind up backfiring for Ball. If Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka are serious about taking a look at Fox, and like what they find, a trade down could be on the radar come draft night.