With the no. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected guard D'Angelo Russell out of Ohio State University. After a tumultuous morning of contradicting reports from the top two beat writers for the Los Angeles Lakers, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak made his pick.
Karl-Anthony Towns going to the Minnesota Timberwovles with the no. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft went as expected. However, the Lakers' selection at no. 2 offered a bit more intrigue. Earlier in the day, Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report reported that the Lakers had not been enamored by Jahlil Okafor's second workout and that they were leaning towards Russell. Prior to that report, the general thought was that the Lakers would select center Okafor out of Duke University without batting an eye.
Mitch makes the call. #LakersDraft https://t.co/SwkHkQWiVE — Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 26, 2015
Then, in the early afternoon, Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times reported that the Lakers were leaning towards Okafor. About the same time, Ramona Shelbourne of ESPN used Twitter to say that the Lakers had not definitively made a decision and that Kupchak would be making the final call on his own.
Ultimately, both Russell and Okafor offered the Lakers a top quality talent considered only a slight drop off from Towns. Whether the Lakers wanted a Stephen Curry style guard--Russell--or a developed big man--Okafor--would ultimately decide which way the Lakers went with the pick.
Mitch Kupchak on D'Angelo Russell: "We felt he, at no. 2, was a player we couldn't pass up." — Shahan Ahmed (@shahanLA) June 25, 2015
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Ultimately, Kupchak and the Lakers selected Russell and went with a shooter that stood out in the team's individual workouts. When at the Lakers' facility, the guard showed tremendous personality and confidence. He invoked Kobe Bryant's name and spoke glowingly about the opportunity of playing with the Lakers' legend.
By making this pick, the Lakers are effectively tapping Russell to learn first-hand from Bryant. In his lone season at Ohio State University, Russell averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.6 assists per game. The 6-foot 5-inch guard also shot 41.1 percent from beyond the arc, though the NBA three-point line is a bit further back than the college triple.
"I want him to take me under his wing and gain every single piece of knowledge I can possibly gain," Russell said about Bryant upon being drafted.
"I didn't know at all, man. I'm still in shock." - D'Angelo Russell when asked if he knew the #Lakers were passing on Okafor to get him. — SoCal Sports 4 You (@SoCalSports4You) June 26, 2015
Right or wrong, the Lakers got their guy. Whether he turns out to be the right pick or even the pick that plays his first game with the Lakers remains to be seen. Rumors have the Lakers deeply involved in discussions to acquire DeMarcus Cousins from the Sacramento Kings. However, picking a guard would initially make it seem like the Lakers may be holding onto this pick.
The Lakers also selected Larry Nance out of Wyoming with the no. 27 pick and Anthony Brown out of Stanford with the no. 34 pick.
