Los Angeles Lakers: Eyes On Emmanuel Mudiay, Stanley Johnson, Jahlil Okafor?

The Los Angeles Lakers are likely heading towards the NBA lottery, and it would be best they started preparing for the future foundation of their roster. Of course things must go as planned, with Los Angeles getting a pick inside the top-five selection.

Any outside of that, the pick belongs to the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers lost Julius Randle to a broken leg this season, and the injury presents a roadblock on his road to development. On the bright side, the team has a chance to return next year with a combination of Randle, and one of the prized prospects of next season’s draft.

If the Lakers are to prepare for the future, along with Randle, they need not to look any further than the team’s weakest positions at point guard, small forward and center.

Despite acquiring Jeremy Lin and drafting Jordan Clarkson, the Lakers luck with injuries calls for them to build depth more significantly than other teams. Quite similar to last season, the backcourt is still in just as much limbo, beginning with the Steve Nash injury.

With Ronnie Price at 31 years of age, and Lin entering free agency next year, eyes should be set on Emmanuel Mudiay.

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Mudiay is widely regarded as the best point guard prospect in the upcoming draft. With incredible size (6’5″, 200 pounds) and speed, Mudiay is often compared to Washington Wizards guard John Wall.

His decision to skip college and join the Guangdong Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association came as a rare surprise to scouts, opting for a chance at early pro experience. His performance with the team has been impressive thus far, posting 19 points, seven assists, and over six rebounds per game.

Mudiay’s versatile skillset would provide the Lakers a formidable weapon in their backcourt.

At small forward, Stanley Johnson may be the most NBA-ready prospect in the 2015 class. Johnson is only 18 years old, but his 6’7″, 243 pound frame indicates uncanny physical maturation. Defensively, he combines his outstanding physicality with a 6’11.5” wingspan making him disruptive on the prep level.

On the offensive side of the ball, he is a capable ballhandler using his explosiveness to finish around the rim. The University of Arizona is where Johnson will play this season, and it is expected that his impact will be felt this year.

For the Lakers, an athlete on both ends of the floor is something that is much-needed. It’s even better that Johnson hails from the state of California, possibly making his selection a homecoming of sorts.

Duke’s Jahlil Okafor is a throwback NBA center. At 6’11” with a 7-3 wingspan, he uses his big body to move frontcourt players out of the paint and feast at the rim. Okafor even steps out comfortably to the mid-post, showing some range and ballhandling.

Under the tutelage of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, Okafor definitely has one of the best basketball minds in his corner. A combination of Randle and Okafor in the paint could provide the Lakers with a two beasts with complementary skills in their frontcourt.

The Lakers were once a franchise that would usually find themselves far away from a chance at top draftees, but the mighty are looking to rise again. While the team stands pat on a stance that a “tank” has not commenced, their 1-7 record says otherwise.

Regardless, a rebuild needs to continue if they ever want to become competitive again. While we wait for the remaining 74 games to play out, front offices will keep an eye on each of these prospects. Whether with the Lakers or not, these players will shape the NBA future.

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