Report: Lakers will actively explore trading No. 2 pick

It's a virtual certainty that teams will explore all of their options, including trade possibilities, when it comes to their draft picks. But when that team is the Los Angeles Lakers, and the pick in question is a top-two selection in a draft class that features two franchise-changing talents, it's going to raise some eyebrows.

Well, according to Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding, the Lakers are going to actively explore trading the No. 2 overall selection in next month's draft.

According to Ding, the thought process behind moving the pick is that Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak wants to improve the team immediately, as Los Angeles will surrender its 2017 first-round pick to Philadelphia if it falls outside the top three.

LSU forward Ben Simmons and Duke big man Brandon Ingram are expected to go No. 1 and No. 2 come the June 23 draft, with reports emerging Tuesday that the 76ers are leaning towards Simmons with the top pick.

Seeking a deal and actually finding one are two different matters, of course, and the chances that Kupchak and Co. can land a star worth giving up one of Simmons or Ingram seems unlikely.

In any event, after the worst three-year stretch in franchise history and in the shadow of Kobe Bryant's retirement, the Lakers have found some bargaining power by landing the No. 2 pick.