Lakers Rumors: Timberwolves Favor Jahlil Okafor Over Karl-Anthony Towns

The Los Angeles Lakers hold the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft and are expected to take either Kentucky center Karl-Anthony Towns or Duke center Jahlil Okafor - whoever is left after the Minnesota Timberwolves' No. 1 pick.

The Lakers favor Towns, who is expected to be the top pick, but ESPN's Chad Ford says the Timberwolves actually favor Okafor, leaving Towns for Los Angeles.

Virtually all the signals from sources inside the Wolves point to Jahlil Okafor being Flip Saunders' favorite right now. That obviously can change as we get closer to the draft. Workouts and interviews and lobbying from staff (I hear most of the rest of the staff favors Towns) could push Towns back atop. And after watching Towns' workout Monday, I believe that the Wolves will figure this out in favor of Towns. Towns has tremendous upside, no glaring weaknesses and he's a better fit in Minnesota, in my opinion, than Okafor. He has the highest ceiling of any player in the draft and I think his impact will come sooner rather than later. And do not totally discount here either. I am told Saunders is also a big fan and might be willing to move Ricky Rubio for the right deal.

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