The Lakers were in position to get the No. 2 pick n the June 23 NBA draft. But they could have gone a lot lower because of the league's annual lottery.

They didn't go lower.

The Lakers held on to the No. 2 position when the lottery was held last Tuesday.

But new head coach Luke Walton was the victim of a prank that caused him some concern.

Raymond Ridder, a former Laker assistant publicist and now the Golden State Warriors' head publicist, sent Walton a text message saying the Lakers had lost their draft position.

Walton took the news seriously until he was informed it wasn't real.

The Lakers are believed to be most interested in a pair of freshman forwards, Ben Simmons of LSU and Brandon Ingram of Duke.

The Philadelphia 76ers will have the No. 1 choice