The Los Angeles Lakers' top target in the 2015 NBA draft reportedly is Karl-Anthony Towns, whom it now looks like the team has a legitimate chance of selecting. If the Kentucky freshman goes first overall in the draft, though, the Lakers reportedly are undecided about whether to go for Jahlil Okafor, D'Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay.
ESPN's Chad Ford confirmed Towns was the Lakers' top choice in the draft, but said things become less clear for the Lakers if the Minnesota Timberwolves take Towns first.
"The Lakers will be elated if Okafor goes No. 1 and Towns slides here. He would be a slam dunk at No. 2. He is a great fit next to Julius Randle in the frontcourt and the best two-way player in the draft," Ford wrote Tuesday. "If Towns ends up going No. 1, then things get more complicated. I think the Lakers are torn between Okafor, Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay."
Previous reports indicated Los Angeles would go with Russell or Mudiay if Towns were off the board, but Ford believes the Lakers will go with Okafor if it came down to it.
"The Lakers run a more traditional front office than most and have a tradition of dominant big men ruling the paint," he wrote. "I think, at the end of the day, the size of Okafor will win out."
Fortunately for Lakers fans, it may not come down to that. Two reports - one from Sports Illustrated and the other from Ford - indicated Timberwolves president and coach prefers Okafor over Towns with the No. 1 pick, increasing the Lakers' chances of being able to land Towns.
