With Minnesota Timberwolves president and coach Flip Saunders seemingly locked on selecting Jahlil Okafor in the 2015 NBA draft, he may look to trade picks with the Los Angeles Lakers to get an extra asset out of the draft.
Saunders has his heart set on drafting Okafor, according to three different reports. Given Minnesota owns the first overall and Towns is projected to be the No. 1 pick, Saunders reportedly may try to get a little something extra out of the draft by swapping picks with the Lakers.
"I think the Wolves will eventually decide to take (Okafor with the No. 1 pick), or perhaps swap with the Lakers and try to pick up another asset," Chad Ford of ESPN wrote Wednesday.
Multiple reports indicate Towns is at the top of the Lakers' draft board. Towns likely is also at the top of other teams' draft boards, meaning Saunders could have leverage to make Los Angeles pony up if it really wants the Kentucky freshman. On the other hand, if Saunders traded down to any other team's spot he'd almost certainly lose out on Okafor. Los Angeles also has the Nos. 27 and 34 picks, but it's difficult to see it parting with either selection to move up just one spot. Assuming the aforementioned reports are accurate, don't expect a blockbuster trade. Any trade scenario for the No. 1 pick would likely result in Minnesota swapping picks with Los Angeles and receiving a future second-round pick or shedding a bad contract, at best.
You can read more about Saunders's supposed infatuation with Okafor HERE.
