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NBA Draft 2017: 5 best fits for Markelle Fultz

By Akash Anavarathan

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
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 /
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Apr 7, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers president for basketball operations acknowledges the fans as he attends the game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center. Lakers won 98-94. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers president for basketball operations acknowledges the fans as he attends the game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center. Lakers won 98-94. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Los Angeles Lakers

D’Angelo Russell who!? That’ll be the Lakers’ reaction, if the Boston Celtics don’t take Markelle Fultz with the No. 1 overall pick. Sitting at No. 2, most people expect the Lakers to select Los Angeles-native, Lonzo Ball. But if the Lakers had a choice, I’m sure they’d have Fultz over Ball any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Some may think that the Lakers want to keep point guard D’Angelo Russell and build around him in the future. But he’s probably better suited for the two-guard role and the Lakers would love to find another primary ball handler. Fultz can fulfill that role with Los Angeles and become a star there.

If the Lakers decide they want to part ways with Russell, that’s also fine, because they’ll have Fultz plug in and become the new starting point guard. Fultz would immediately have solid, developmental players around him. It would be a young nucleus that’s comprised of Brandon Ingram, Fultz and Julius Randle. Pair those guys with head coach Luke Walton and the Lakers might start to see themselves turn it around soon.

Russell, the third-year player out of Ohio State, averaged 15.6 points and 4.8 assists per game in his second season. That’s solid production, but not the star that the Lakers were hoping for when they drafted him at No. 2 overall.

The Lakers can fix that by taking Markelle Fultz here in this draft and adding him to the young Lakers’ roster.

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