2017 NBA Draft: How Markelle Fultz would impact every lottery team
By Max Holm
Los Angeles Lakers – 15.6% Chance of Winning Lottery
Everyone in Los Angeles and LaVar Ball wants to see Lonzo Ball on the Los Angeles Lakers. Currently they have the third-worst record, which would give them a great chance at snagging him in June. However, should they win the lottery, it would be a mistake not to take Fultz. Not only is he the better prospect, but he’s an even better fit than Ball for the Lake Show.
Luke Walton moved D’Angelo Russell to shooting guard late in the year, paving the way for someone else to step into the lead guard role. Fultz would allow Russell to focus more on scoring and by taking the pressure of primary playmaking, he would put less pressure on Russell to create. Being the gifted passer Russell is, playing with a lead guard would help him make better decisions on a more consistent basis.
In addition to helping Russell, winning the lottery would mean the Lakers keep their 2017 AND 2019 1st rounders. That’s vital for the future of the franchise, especially with how poor they’ve been in the last three years. Despite a potentially deeper top of the 2018 draft class, the Lakers would much prefer to not lose two picks over the next three years.
With their future solidified, the Lakers would be set to compete for years to come with a core of Russell, Fultz, Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle. That would rival Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Minnesota for the best cores in the league. It would still take them a few seasons to get there, but winning the lottery and adding Fultz would likely complete the hardest part of this rebuild.