National Basketball Association

Five prospects Los Angeles Lakers might draft with No. 2 pick

Published May. 20, 2015 1:45 p.m. ET

foxsports

The lottery balls bounced the right way for the Los Angeles Lakers. Not only did the Lakers stay in the top 5 and keep their draft selection, they also jumped up to the No. 2 overall selection in a draft with two projected franchise centers.

With last year's first-round selection Julius Randle set to return from a broken leg after playing in just one game last season, the Lakers could have one of the most dynamic frontcourt pairings the league has to offer.

While it will be up to the Minnesota Timberwolves to likely choose between Duke's Jahlil Okafor and Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns, here's how the Lakers big board could look heading into the draft on June 25th.

1. Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky

Towns may not be the scoring threat on the block that Okafor is right now, but he's a bigger defensive presence and is probably more versatile offensively. While the Lakers could certainly use some help scoring, defense needs to be the top priority, particularly since Randle lacks the length to be a paint protector at the power forward position. Towns can serve as a defensive anchor and help spread the floor in a more pick-and-roll-based attack, which has proven to be more successful in today's NBA than a low-post-oriented attack.

2. Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke

While there are questions about Okafor's defensive abilities, the Lakers shouldn't hesitate if Towns gets snatched up by the Timberwolves. Okafor has all the makings of a dominant offensive player and could be in the mold of a player like DeMarcus Cousins, who demands so much attention every time he touches the ball. The Lakers would need to surround a core of Jordan Clarkson, Randle and Okafor with perimeter shooting, but Kobe Bryant can definitely help bridge the gap in that regard until a few sharp-shooting young wings are brought in.

3. Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia

Maybe Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak will shock the world and go away from Towns or Okafor with the second overall pick, and instead take a 7-footer with legitimate 3-point range in Porzingis. This would certainly be an interesting approach, as the Lakers would have the floor spread but would likely struggle mightily defensively. Porzingis would really have to bowl the Lakers over in workouts, and something would likely need to happen with Okafor and Towns, but big men with shooting range will always be hotly pursued. If the Lakers go elsewhere, it might be here.

4. Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, Guangdong

It's incredibly unlikely that the Lakers go small in the draft, but we can't rule it out entirely. The point guard position is by far the deepest in the league, which could cause some hesitation to take one this high in the draft. Still, if the Lakers absolutely fall in love with someone like Mudiay, who brings size and athleticism to the position, maybe they buck conventional wisdom and go that route. It's just hard to see, especially given how well the rookie point guard Clarkson played this season.

5. D'Angelo Russell, PG/SG, Ohio State

Will the Lakers really take another lead guard with Kobe Bryant still around? Probably not. You could argue that Bryant could mentor Russell and get him ready to take over the team, but the Lakers would still be toothless up front defensively. Bryant is probably better suited to guard against size at the small forward position as opposed to speed at shooting guard, but, again, it's incredibly unlikely the Lakers pass up a franchise big man for a guard, even if Russell does look like the total package.