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2018 NBA Mock Draft: Promises, promises

By Brendon Kleen

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Deandre Ayton
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Deandre Ayton /
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BROOKLYN, NY – MARCH 06: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets guard Josh Okogie (5) puts up a shot during the ACC men’s tournament game between the Boston College Eagles and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on March 6, 2018 at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, NY. (Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY – MARCH 06: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets guard Josh Okogie (5) puts up a shot during the ACC men’s tournament game between the Boston College Eagles and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on March 6, 2018 at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, NY. (Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

G/F. Georgia Tech. Josh Okogie. 25. player. 20.

So far, the Lakers have reportedly made promises to both Mitchell Robinson and Kevin Huerter, according to Aran Smith of NBADraft.net and Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo, respectively. I say they’re doing all of this as a smokescreen for whatever they ultimately do on draft night. Certainly, those two players would be fits in Los Angeles, but all season, I’ve been operating under the assumption the Lakers draft the best player available in this spot, and that would be Okogie here.

This is because it’s unlikely Los Angeles even has the player selected here on its roster by the start of the 2018 season, not to mention the 2019 season. With big hopes in each of the next two summers, the Lakers need talented, appealing players who can be a part of any number of trade packages. Okogie has been a big riser throughout the draft process and remains one of the most coveted wing defenders in the draft. If he falls to 25, the Lakers can take him and include him in packages for a superstar.

And if they do not find a partner, missing out on the massive free agent names this summer and next, the Lakers can rest easy with a very talented player in tow for the foreseeable future.

Okogie is a smaller 3-and-D wing with playmaking and shot creation upside. Those types of players tend to become really good, if they indeed improve.

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