Wonder what word he's about to say. Photo Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Wonder what word he’s about to say.
Photo Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

We already knew the Lakers could be total turds at the draft and take D’Angelo Russell, the Sixers’ reported target, with the second pick. But now, according to Chad Ford, we know the Timberwolves could be turds before the Lakers even get a chance to be turds (I had some stomach issues this morning, in case you couldn’t tell):

Karl-Anthony Towns is the No. 1-ranked player on my Big Board. However, virtually all the signals from sources inside the Wolves point to Jahlil Okafor being Flip Saunders’ favorite right now.

That obviously can change as we get closer to the draft. Workouts and interviews and lobbying from staff (I hear most of the rest of the staff favors Towns) could push Towns back atop.

And do not totally discount D’Angelo Russell here either. I am told Saunders is also a big fan and might be willing to move Ricky Rubio for the right deal.

Who knows how possible this is or if it’s just one of those draft rumors that gets tossed around to muddy the waters. But if Russell does go number one, and then Towns goes to the Lakers at #2 (or even Okafor), that puts the Sixers in a weird position. They can draft one of the big men and look to swap for a different 2015 pick and a future one… draft a wing or Emmanuel Mudiay and just move on with them… or do whatever mystical third option exists only in Sam Hinkie’s mind. Odds are that the draft will shake out closer to what is expected on big boards, but with the Wolves and Lakers ahead of the Sixers, any number of weird things can happen.