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NBA Draft Rumor: Lakers closing in on D’Angelo Russell

By Josh Criswell

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Reports have surfaced that the Lakers are eying D’Angelo Russell with the No. 2 overall pick, but is it just a smokescreen?

The Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to Duke center Jahlil Okafor ever since they received the No. 2 pick in tonight’s NBA Draft. With the draft less than an hour away, however, the Lakers have been rumored to favor Ohio State point guard D’Angelo Russell with the pick.

The revelation should come as no surprise. The franchise is looking for a star to transition from the Kobe Bryant era. Russell has the potential to become just that.

He is the best point guard in the 2015 draft class by a significant margin, and a case can be made that he is the best player in the entire draft. For a team that has featured a carousel of floor generals and found no answers during the past few seasons, Russell would be a breath of fresh air.

In addition to his many talents on the hardwood, Russell also appears to have the confidence to handle the media spotlight in Los Angeles.

"“I definitely believe I’m the best player in the NBA draft, based on my hunger,” Russell told USA Today. “I just feel like what I bring to the game, you don’t see a lot of it at my age. Things that you don’t teach — high IQ, leadership skills, passing ability — I have those intangibles.”"

Russell clearly has the skill set and mental makeup necessary to be a star in this league, and especially under the bright lights of L.A.

According to Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski, however, there is a good chance that this is nothing but a smokescreen to force the Sacramento Kings’ hand on a trade offer for DeMarcus Cousins.

The Lakers’ interest in the All-Star center is no secret, and the two teams have been trying to orchestrate a deal involving the No. 2 overall pick.

Regardless of which direction the organization decides to go with the pick, the player they bring in will be expected to carry a heavy load. Cousins or Okafor would be a tremendous upgrade over the Lakers’ nonexistent post game, while Russell has the tools to evolve into one of the best point guards in the league.

With Kobe Bryant entering the home stretch of his Hall of Fame career, the Lakers need someone to carry the torch. Russell is capable of being that guy, it is all a matter of whether or not the team takes a chance on him.

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