Despite entering the night with percentages pointing to a likelihood of drafting outside of the top three, the Los Angeles Lakers were the beneficiary of kind ping-pong ball bounces that resulted in a climb up the final order.
ESPN Stats & Info relayed the official outcome shortly after the lottery's completion:
After avoiding disaster and maintaining a grip on their top-five protected selection that had a 17.2 percent chance of conveying to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Lakers actually leap-frogged them and claimed the No. 2 overall pick.
According to Lakers.com's Mike Trudell, Los Angeles was the only team that saw its draft fortune change positively Tuesday night:
Take it from Kobe Bryant, the Lakers' franchise-worst 61-loss season earned them the right to bask in the glow of positivity:
With an injury-riddled and downright disastrous campaign behind them, the Lakers can finally look forward to a season filled with prospect development and tangible improvement in the win column.
Although the No. 2 pick hardly assures the Lakers will snap their two-year postseason drought in a fiercely competitive Western Conference, they will have options galore after the Minnesota Timberwolves initiate the proceedings at No. 1 overall.
No wonder the franchise is reveling in relief, according to the Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan:
The reasons are obvious.
Nearly every possibility is open to the Lakers at No. 2—which wouldn't have been true at No. 4 or No. 5. Instead of turning their attention to Justise Winslow, Stanley Johnson or even Emmanuel Mudiay—all terrific prospects in their own right—the Lakers can strike gold and snag a top-flight...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
