If Lakers draft Aaron Gordon, he’ll be ‘attached to Kobe at the hip’

The Lakers have the seventh pick in the 2014 NBA draft, to be held in New York on June 26.

Arizona forward Aaron Gordon is one of the prospects in the Lakers’ range. He’s expected to work out for the team this week.

After a stop in Sacramento to visit the Kings (armed with the eighth pick), Gordon told Slam, “I go to L.A. for the Lakers; then I go to Boston then I think I go to Orlando after that.”

The Celtics have the sixth overall pick. The Magic have two lottery picks at fourth and 12th.

At 6-foot-9, Gordon is one of the most athletic players in the draft. He’ll come into the NBA as capable defender. His offensive game will have to catch up a bit, but he has a strong reputation as a hard worker and as a teammate.

Gordon likes the idea of playing for the Lakers.

“The Lakers are a great program,” Gordon said. “If I end up playing with Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, that’s would be absolutely insane. I would want to know everything that they know.

“I’d be attached to Kobe at the hip. I’d be attached to him and Steve Nash. And if I don’t get picked by them, I’m going at them. Either way, it’s going to be fun.”

Andrew Wiggins (Kansas), Jabari Parker (Duke) and Joel Embiid (Kansas) project to be top-three picks in some order. Australia’s Dante Exum may not go lower than four to the Magic.

Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State), Noah Vonleh (Indiana), Julius Randle (Kentucky), Dario Saric (Croatia), Doug McDermott (Creighton) and Tyler Ennis (Syracuse) could be available when the Lakers select -- depending on who the Utah Jazz (fifth) and Celtics choose.

Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.