2017 NBA Draft: Lakers, Suns could swap picks, per report

The Los Angeles Lakers have held internal discussions about potentially swapping first-round picks with the Phoenix Suns ahead of the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, per a new report. While the Lakers own the No. 2 pick, the Suns will select No. 4 in a highly-touted draft class that some scouts are calling the best since 2003.

According to ESPN's Chad Ford, the Lakers are considering trading down two spots with the belief that Josh Jackson or Lonzo Ball, the two players they most covet, will still be available at No. 4. Prior to Draft night, the Lakers would have worked out Jackson, Ball and De'Aaron Fox on two occasions each besides getting a look at Markelle Fultz and Jayson Tatum, the two other players projected to go inside the Top-5.

2017 NBA Draft: Ball or Jackson could still be available at # 4

"The Lakers (have) held internal discussions about trading back two spots to No. 4 if the Suns were to offer them a 2018 first-round pick. The Suns hold their own 2018 pick (which currently projects to be a high lottery pick) as well as the rights to the Miami Heat's 2018 pick. The latter pick is top-seven-protected in 2018 but unprotected in 2019.

"The Lakers believe that Ball or Jackson might be available at the No. 4 spot. If not, the Lakers are still very high on Fox and Tatum, and believe that securing an additional prospect might be worth dropping two spots in the draft," Ford wrote in his insider article published Thursday.

After holding onto their Top-3 protected pick at last month's NBA Draft Lottery, the Lakers surrendered their 2018 first-round pick to the Philadelphia 76ers. The potential trade with Phoenix would ensure that Magic Johnson & Co. add another young talent to the roster in 2018 courtesy a draft class that is projected to be top-heavy.

Ford said the Lakers were also intrigued by the possibility of swapping picks with the Sacramento Kings, who will select No. 5 and No. 10 next Thursday. The Kings are reportedly "very high" on Kentucky point guard De'Aaron Fox and would entertain the idea of trading up for the right price.

"The Kings are another potential trade partner for the Lakers. They hold the rights to the fifth and 10th picks and have discussed moving up in this year's draft. At No. 5, the Lakers might still be able to choose between Fox and Tatum (and potentially Ball), or just take the best prospect who's available. And at No. 10, other strong prospects -- such as Malik Monk, Dennis Smith, Frank Ntilikina, Lauri Markkanen, Kennard and/or Zach Collins -- would likely still be on the board."

If the Los Angeles Lakers hold onto their No. 2 pick, all signs point to them drafting either Josh Jackson or Lonzo Ball. The 2017 NBA draft will be held on June 22, 2017, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The Lakers will also select No. 28, a pick they received as part of the Lou Williams trade earlier this year.