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The Los Angeles Lakers had an extremely hard decision, choosing between Jahlil Okafor and D’Angelo Russell for the second pick. Okafor is one of the most polished young big men to come out of college, and has the potential to be a superstar in the league. He has done well in the spotlight, and is well worth a top pick in the draft. But the Lakers made the decision to go with Russell, who is arguably the best player in the whole draft. While it was a tough choice, the Lakers should be extremely happy that Russell will be the future face of the franchise.
The Lakers were fortunate enough to move up in the lottery, and desperately needed a young star to inject some excitement into the organization. Karl-Anthony Towns was likely going to be picked first, meaning the Lakers would have their choice from a variety of prospects. While Okafor and Russell were the top contenders, there was talk about Kristaps Porzingis moving up. The team also could have gone with Emmanuel Mudiay or even Justise Winslow. These three players have a ton of potential, but it would have been a reach to select them second.
With Russell, the Lakers now have a combo guard who could become one of the best players in the league. He has a ton of confidence, and might be one of the most talented passers in recent years. He can create his own shot, and is a very good outside shooter. He has a very strong handle and is hard to contain one-on-one, especially given his size. There are questions about his defense and lack of elite athleticism, but he is very intelligent and has enough speed that he should be able to make it work.
Russell has the makings of a star, and although he certainly comes with risk, the Lakers made a great decision. He embraces the spotlight and is certainly capable of carrying the torch once Kobe Bryant retires. He should make an instant impact on offense with his skillset, and gives the organization hope for the future. The Lakers should be excited as they now have a player that they can build around.
