The Los Angeles Lakers had better luck than the New York Knicks on Tuesday and won the second overall pick of the 2015 NBA draft. Reports indicate the Lakers will likely draft Duke star Jahlil Okafor and then sign soon-to-be free agent Rajon Rondo in July, two moves that could go a long way toward helping superstar Kobe Bryant reach the playoffs in what will likely be his final season.
According to the majority of mock drafts, Lakers fans should get ready to welcome Okafor to the purple-and-gold. A number of draft experts - Chad Ford of ESPN, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated and Tim Bontemps of the New York Post included among them - project Kentucky freshman Karl-Anthony Towns to go No. 1 to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Okafor to go No. 2 to the Lakers.
"Pair him on the front line with last year's lottery pick, Julius Randle, and first-team All Rookie Team guard Jordan Clarkson and the Lakers finally have some real pieces to build around," Ford wrote Wednesday. "Offensively, Okafor is the most gifted young big man I've seen in a decade. He has great feet and hands and plays with a great feel for the game. He's going to average 20 (points per game) in the league."
The two biggest knocks on Okafor are his soft defense and his poor free throw shooting, both of which make him a liability on the court in crunch time. He's not a natural defender like Towns, and the amount of time and work it would take Okafor to improve his defense means the 19-year-old needs to have a serious resolve to do it. Nobody is predicting Okafor to become an All-Defensive First Team player, but there's no question he could improve his defense if he were to put the work in.
Drafting Okafor, though, would give Los Angeles an NBA-ready center that has the potential to be a big-time scorer. While he'll never be the kind of center like Shaquille O'Neal who just overpowers players in the paint, Okafor's footwork and athleticism will make him a threat offensively.
Los Angeles' next move likely will be signing Rondo in July. Although recent reports suggest the Lakers are no longer as enamored with Rondo as they once were, it's hard to see them passing on the veteran - especially when Rondo has the endorsement of Bryant.
There won't be many talented point guards available in free agency this summer, but the best-case scenario for Los Angeles would be convincing Rondo to sign for a less-than-the-max deal. Given Rondo's noticeable decline in Dallas and the fact he's yet to look like his former since tearing his ACL in 2013, he may not have a choice. Teams don't appear to be lining up to throw max offers at Rondo's way, which means the Lakers have a chance of signing the 29-year-old on a discount.
The only other two notable 1-guards available this summer are Goran Dragic and Reggie Jackson. Los Angeles will likely pursue both players, but Dragic appears to be a lock to re-sign with the Miami Heat and the Detroit Pistons will likely match any offer Jackson, a restricted free agent, receives.
Los Angeles will also look at Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love, who can opt out of his contract after the season. Reports indicate Love is unsure of whether he wants to stay in Cleveland, and he's been linked to the Lakers before. Moreover, Love has a house in Los Angeles and reportedly is willing to listen to the Lakers' pitch in free agency.
Other reported free-agent targets include LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMarre Carroll, along with restricted free agents Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris.
