Oddsmaker says Duke’s Jahlil Okafor likely to be the Lakers’ pick
Duke star Jahlil Okafor works out with the Los Angeles Lakers at their practice facility in El Segundo on June 9.
Kentucky forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns has a 91% chance of going first on Thursday, when the Minnesota Timberwolves kick off the 2015 NBA draft, according to oddsmaking website Pregame.com.
Duke center Jahlil Okafor has just a 6% chance of going first while Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell has 2% odds -- and Latvian forward Kristaps Porzingis has a slim chance at 1%.
The Lakers select second overall. The oddsmaker has the team selecting Okafor with 66.5% statistical certainty.
Russell has a 20% chance, Towns 5% and Porzingis 3%. Duke forward Justise Winslow is on the board at 2.5%, while the rest of the field has a 3% chance.
Both Okafor and Russell worked out twice at the Lakers’ practice facility in El Segundo.
In addition to watching Porzingis in a public workout in Las Vegas, the Lakers also brought him to their gym for a private audition. The Lakers did not work out Towns or Winslow.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
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