Unless the Minnesota Timberwolves say differently, NBA prospect and former Duke center Jahlil Okafor is destined to wear the color purple.
SI.com is reporting that the Los Angeles Lakers, based on comments from multiple league sources, are locked in with the No. 2 selection of the NBA Draft to take Okafor.
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"The Lakers are going through the motions with other draft prospects-D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay have been in for workouts-but multiple league sources say L.A. is locked in on Okafor," SI.com reported. "Despite being overtaken by (Karl-Anthony Towns), scouts still see Okafor as a franchise center-one with an enormous upside.
SI adds that the Timberwolves still are not certain to take the Kentucky center with the No. 1 pick, but he has become the consensus No. 1 and the team has said it will take the best player on the draft board.
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A LakersNation report indicated that Towns has not yet even worked out for the Lakers, an indication that he could be Minnesota-bound.
When Okafor, who has worked out with the Lakers, was asked about how he'd deal with the demanding and perfection-driven Kobe Bryant, his answer may have solidified his place among the Purple and Gold in 2015-16.
And he may have tipped his hand as to what he knows about the draft process - at least with the first two picks.
"That's what I want; he wants to win," Okafor told reporters. "Hopefully, when I come, he'll be super-hard on me. I've seen the video of him at practice, and I love it. I love it, and I'm ready for that."
Notice that Okafor said "when I come," not "if I come."
Depending on Bryant's health among his left Achilles, his right knee and his right shoulder, the Lakers should be an intriguing team with Okafor and Julius Randle to give the team some talent up front to take some of the pressure of Bryant and promising point guard Jordan Clarkson.
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