2017 NBA Mock Draft: The worst picks every team can make

By Chris Stone | Jun 15, 2017

Feb 26, 2017; Pullman, WA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) looks on form the bench during a game against the Washington State Cougars during the second half at Friel Court at Beasley Coliseum. The Cougars won 79-71. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /

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Feb 23, 2017; Tempe, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Wells-Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

reported desire to join the Lakers in free agency in 2018 makes such a deal an even larger disaster. Yes, Los Angeles would be risking something by giving Indiana a chance to trade him elsewhere, but mortgaging the future isn’t the right solution. If the Lakers can make a small deal to get George into a Lakers uniform early, they should go for it. If it means trading significant pieces, they should wait the situation out. Being impatient on draft night is their worst case scenario.

Learn more about Lonzo Ball at The Step Back.

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Lonzo Ball

PG, UCLA

Like the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers are a historic franchise that holds championship aspirations. However, unlike the Celtics, the Lakers aren’t particularly close to actualizing those goals. So, the worst thing that Los Angeles could do on draft night is move any number of its young assets, including this No. 2 pick or not, for Indiana’s Paul George.

Despite all of the smokescreens, the most likely outcome for the Lakers still seems to be UCLA’s Lonzo Ball. The 6-foot-6 point guard could run the show in the backcourt next to D’Angelo Russell and give the team another young piece to build around. Offloading those assets for George would be particularly unwise because George plus the scraps certainly wouldn’t be enough to compete in the Western Conference.

George’s reported desire to join the Lakers in free agency in 2018 makes such a deal an even larger disaster. Yes, Los Angeles would be risking something by giving Indiana a chance to trade him elsewhere, but mortgaging the future isn’t the right solution. If the Lakers can make a small deal to get George into a Lakers uniform early, they should go for it. If it means trading significant pieces, they should wait the situation out. Being impatient on draft night is their worst case scenario.

Learn more about Lonzo Ball at The Step Back.