Prevailing wisdom would have the Los Angeles Lakers selecting Duke big man Jahil Okafor over international point guard sensation Emmanuel Mudiay in the 2015 NBA Draft if they're given a choice between the two.
However, ESPN's Chad Ford has an inkling that the team may favor Mudiay over Okafor:
Here’s my Lakers top 5 (they must send the pick to the Sixers if it falls to No. 6 which has about an 18 percent chance of happening) … 1. Towns 2. Mudiay 3. Okafor 4. Russell 5. Winslow
While it's no surprise that Kentucky forward Karl Anthony-Towns is atop Ford's Lakers wishlist, picking Mudiay over one of the most dominant forces in college basketball this past season in Okafor could be enough to raise some eyebrows.
Mudiay, however, does have an NBA body at 6’5 and 200 pounds and showcases top-tier athleticism at the point guard position. He averaged 18 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in China while also shooting 47.8 percent from the field. Those numbers may not translate fully to the NBA game, but there's enough upside to his game to at least consider him as a #2 option.
Stay tuned.
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