2017 NBA Mock Draft: What if the Lakers don’t take Lonzo Ball?
Chris Stone
Jan 25, 2017; Tempe, AZ, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) dribbles the ball against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the second half at Wells-Fargo Arena. The Sun Devils won 86-75. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
We’re back with our latest NBA mock draft, wondering what happens if the Los Angeles Lakers don’t take Lonzo Ball with the No. 2 pick.
The biggest assumption that draft analysts seem to be making at this point is that the top two picks in the 2017 NBA Draft are pretty cut and dry. Washington’s Markelle Fultz will come off the board to the Boston Celtics at No. 1 and UCLA’s Lonzo Ball will follow to the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 2. But, what if the Lakers buck the conventional wisdom and don’t take Ball? There are reports that the franchise will examine all of their options and, in particular, that they might be interested in Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox.
So, sticking with the idea that we want to look at different ways the 2017 NBA Draft might shake out, we’ve sent Fox to the Lakers at No. 2. What are the ramifications of that decision?
Let’s take a look.
Jan 25, 2017; Tempe, AZ, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) dribbles the ball against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the second half at Wells-Fargo Arena. The Sun Devils won 86-75. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard De’Aaron Fox (0) shoots during practice the day before the South Regional semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) reacts on the court against the Kent State Golden Flashes in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Josh Jackson (11) reacts during the second half in the semifinals of the midwest Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) is fouled by North Carolina Tar Heels forward Theo Pinson (1) during the first half at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Greenville, SC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots the ball during the first half against the Troy Trojans in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2017; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles forward Jonathan Isaac (1) reacts after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) reacts after a three-point basket against the Wichita State Shockers during the second half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Joseph-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle looks on during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Lauri Markkanen (10) moves around Colorado Buffaloes forward Lucas Siewert (25) during the second half during the Pac-12 Conference Tournament at T-Mobile Arena. Arizona won 92-78. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Donovan Mitchell (45) and forward Deng Adel (22) celebrate against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks during the second half in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson (44) looks to drive against Butler Bulldogs forward Andrew Chrabascz (45) in the first half during the semifinals of the South Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2017; College Park, MD, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward OG Anunoby (3) dunks over Maryland Terrapins forward Damonte Dodd (35) during the second half at Xfinity Center. Maryland Terrapins defeated Indiana Hoosiers 75-72. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zach Collins (32) dunks the ball against North Carolina Tar Heels guard Nate Britt (0) during the first half in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2017; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Jarrett Allen (31) dunks against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the first half at the Frank Erwin Center. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Luke Kennard (5) reacts after hitting a three-point shot against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2017; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils guard Torian Graham (4) moves to the basket against UCLA Bruins forward Ike Anigbogu (13) during the first half at Wells-Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2017; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) drives to the basket in front of Oklahoma Sooners forward Kristian Doolittle (11) during the first half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2017; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons forward John Collins (20) dunks the ball against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Patrick McDermott-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts watches his team play against the Golden State Warriors in game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Providence, RI, USA; Creighton Bluejays center Justin Patton (23) dunks and scores against the Providence Friars during the second half at the Dunkin Donuts Center. The Bluejays won 78-64. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Sean Marks general manager of the Brooklyn Nets talks at a press conference announcing the Long Island Nets D League team before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs forward Semi Ojeleye (33) reacts to a score against the Temple Owls during the second half at Liacouras Center. Southern Methodist Mustangs won 66-50. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder during the third quarter in game one of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Jazz 106-94. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonalds All American guard Terrance Ferguson (6) poses for photos on portrait day at the Marriott Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
January 5, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins forward TJ Leaf (22) reacts after scoring a basket against the California Golden Bears during the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2017; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange forward Tyler Lydon (20) shoots the ball over Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Keyshawn Woods (1) during the second half at the Carrier Dome. The Orange won 81-76. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2016; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Harry Giles (1) fights for position against Tennessee State Tigers forward Ken’Darrius Hamilton (4) in the first half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. This is the first time that Duke Blue Devils forward Harry Giles (1) has played in a game this season. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Sindarius Thornwell (0) dunks against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Arkansas wins 83-76 over the Gamecocks. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Monte Morris (11) celebrates during the first half of the game against the Purdue Boilermakers in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
Chris Stone
A Kansas transplant living in Washington DC, I primarily write about college basketball and the NBA Draft.
