Los Angeles Lakers 2015 Draft Preview

Jun 23, 2015 - 4:07 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Lakers endured their second consecutive hideous season, but at least the 2014-15 campaign netted them the second pick in the draft.

If Minnesota selects Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns, the Lakers are in position for Duke's Jahlil Okafor. He's an NBA-ready low-post scorer, but has flaws. His free-throw shooting is horrendous and he has almost no range. But, Okafor can dominate the interior and score with both hands easily.

If the Lakers are scared of Okafor's flaws, Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell makes sense. He's a combo guard of the highest caliber. Russell can shoot, pass and penetrate.

But everything with the Lakers still revolves around Kobe Bryant. His $25 million salary is prohibitive. His health is shaky after missing the better part of the last two seasons. Bryant's presence hurts a full-blown rebuilding process.

Julius Randle sat out almost the entire season after a broken leg, but he should be ready to start the season. He's a big-time skilled forward.

A lone bright spot in last season was Jordan Clarkson, the point guard who earned All-Rookie honors. Is he a long-term solution that would prevent the Lakers from taking Russell? It's doubtful, but LA should be in love with Okafor. He could continue the lineage of dominant big men from Wilt to Kareem to Shaq.

The Lakers have a lot of bodies under contract, but Bryant, Randle and Clarkson are the only real impact guys. They need an infusion of premier talent and Okafor, or even Russell, would provide such.

At 27, the Lakers should be able to draft someone who can help. Virginia's Justin Anderson probably won't slip that low, but Chris McCullough, a Syracuse product who missed time with a knee injury, could be a nice value pick. At the end of this draft, there are a slew of projects, including Louisville's Terry Rozier, or Utah's Delon Wright.

There are rumors that L.A. is desperately trying to pry DeMarcus Cousins from the Sacramento Kings. Yahoo Sports! reported that Sacramento coach George Karl wants him gone, so watch for that.

Players Under Contract: G Kobe Bryant; F/C Jordan Hill; F Julius Randle; G Nick Young; F Ryan Kelly; G Jordan Clarkson; C Robert Sacre; C Tarik Black; G Jabari Brown

Free Agents: G Jeremy Lin; F Carlos Boozer; G Wayne Ellington; F Wesley Johnson; G Ronnie Price; F Ed Davis (player option)

Recent Draft History:

2014: Julius Randle (7)

2013: Ryan Kelly (48)

2012: Robert Sacre (60)

2011: Darius Morris (41), Andrew Goudelock (46), Ater Mojak (58)

2010: Devin Ebanks (43), Derrick Caracter (58)