The Los Angeles Lakers are obviously hoping to get into the top three after next week’s NBA Draft Lottery.
However, their record of 27-55 was only the sixth-worst in the league, giving them only a 21.5% chance of getting one of the first three picks (you can check out the complete list of lottery odds here).
They’d clearly like to get their hands on Kansas Jayhawks’ forward Andrew Wiggins or Duke Blue Devils’ forward Jabari Parker, but if they wind up with the third pick, they will likely end up choosing between Wiggins’ former Jayhawks’ teammate, center Joel Embiid, and Australian point guard Dante Exum.
The Lakers have been very interested in Exum so many believe he would be the choice.
However, Bill Ingram of Basketball Insiders believes the Lakers should go with Embiid if they are put in that position.
"I have to go with Embiid for a couple of reasons. First, the NBA is desperately short on quality centers, and Embiid has the potential to be a very effective low post player. He might even be All-Star material. The other factor, of course, is that the Lakers hope to lure Kyle Lowry to town in free agency, which would mean they don’t need Exum."
Embiid averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 1.4 assists per game last season.