The Los Angeles Lakers will be keeping their fingers crossed during next week's NBA lottery, as their ability to secure a top-three pick will significantly impact their roster makeup for the foreseeable future.
If the Lakers land outside the top-three, their pick goes to Philadelphia 76ers. If they keep the selection, there is a belief UCLA's Lonzo Ball will be the pick. According to a recent report, however, there are three other players under serious consideration: Washington point guard Markelle Fultz, Kansas forward Josh Jackson and Kentucky point guard De'Aaron Fox.
Per Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding:
Either the Lakers will start locking in on UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball, Washington point guard Markelle Fultz, Kansas forward Josh Jackson and under-the-radar Kentucky point guard De'Aaron Fox—the four players they are most considering in the top three, according to league sources…or they won't.
Regardless of which direction the Lakers go -- assuming they secure the pick -- it will spur a shake-up in the rotation at the very least.
The fact that three point guards are in consideration means the team could be heading in a different direction with D'Angelo Russell, either with a shift over to shooting guard or looking to deal the enigmatic point guard. In regards to the one non-point guard, Josh Jackson, it would give the Lakers another athletic wing to pair with 2016 first round pick Brandon Ingram.
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