While the ongoing narrative has carried a general sense on inevitably that UCLA one-and-done Lonzo Ball heads to the Lakers at the No. 2 overall pick, recent reports have begun to buck this notion.
During an appearance on Petros and Money this week, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reported that the Lakers are 'very open-minded' with their options at the top of the draft. This sentiment was backed up further with a pair of additional reports.
ESPN's Chad Ford wrote the following, indicating interest in Kentucky point guard De'Aaron Fox and Kansas forward Josh Jackson:
"I also think it reflects a genuine split within the organization about whom the best long-term candidate is. Ball was a clear favorite of the prior administration run by Mitch Kupchak and still has his fans within the organization. But the Lakers also took note on how Fox outplayed Ball in their head-to-head matchup in March. And Jackson has always been another favorite in the organization."
In addition to the possibility of selecting Fox or Jackson, Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding alludes to another potential scenario where the Lakers pass on Ball.
Ding reports that Ball did not blow the Lakers away in his workout this week, and with the team not sold on the former UCLA standout, the organization is hoping to get Washington guard Markelle Fultz in for a workout -- the presumed No. 1 overall pick.
The NBA Draft will be held on Thursday, June 22.
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