NBA Draft rumors: Josh Jackson to Lakers at No. 2 overall?
The Los Angeles Lakers have an obvious option at No. 2 overall in the NBA Draft, but they may be shifting direction.
The Los Angeles Lakers seem to have an obvious choice with the second pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. But there is growing speculation they are not sold on UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball, and Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox surfaced initially as another option.
Kansas small forward Josh Jackson is considered a sure-fire top-five pick, and a lot of mock drafts have him going No. 3 to the Philadelphia 76ers or No. 4 to the Phoenix Suns. But an interesting report, out of Arizona, suggests something else.
Josh Jackson has been promised - has worked out for Lakers in LA. Has not worked out for Phoenix yet. It could be Philly but likely Lakers.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) June 12, 2017
It has been reported some members of the Lakers’ front office like Jackson, who may be the best two-way player in this draft. He’s theoretically a better fit for the Lakers than Ball or Fox, if only as a defensive upgrade to help cover up the deficiencies of others on that end of the floor. But Ball in particular would be “good for business” as a local product, and Magic Johnson has to be keenly aware of that.
As Gambadoro reported, Jackson has not worked out for the Suns yet. That adds teeth to the idea the Lakers or 76ers have promised they’ll take him, as much as it should hold any weight as a guarantee. Jackson did cancel a Monday workout with the Celtics, who have the No. 1 pick, which is not very surprising all things considered.
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The Suns surely have their eye on Jackson at No. 4, and they may not need to put him through a workout in order to draft him. So a potential smokescreen, fed to someone connected locally like Gambadaro, may lead to short fall for Jackson, right into Phoenix’s lap. Or maybe they’re hoping someone else, like Ball, falls to them.