Los Angeles Lakers picks: Lonzo Ball (2), Kyle Kuzma (27, via Nets), Josh Hart (30, via Jazz), Thomas Bryant (42, via Jazz).
The Lakers took the best player in the draft, and they made sure he would have plenty of opportunity to grow by trading D'Angelo Russell earlier in the week.
Like the top pick, there was little drama about the second selection, with 6-foot-6 point guard Lonzo Ball, the UCLA star with dynamic passing vision, always expected to be Magic Johnson’s first selection as team president. Lonzo Ball will give the Lakers the opportunity to go back to the “Showtime” Lakers of Johnson’s heyday, as his best attributes are his ability to push the pace in transition and move the ball around the court. He had an instant impact on the Bruins, leading them to a 30-win season in his lone year in Westwood, and Los Angeles will be hoping the local product can do the same for the Lakers, who have consecutively had their worst four seasons since moving to Los Angeles over 50 years ago.
For more about the 2017 NBA Draft, visit NBA.com.
Check out more of the NBA draft recap and analysis at The Washington Post.