CLEVELAND, Ohio — There is growing speculation that the Los Angeles Lakers, who pick at No.4 and one spot ahead of the Cavaliers, will use that selection on Vanderbilt guard Darius Garland or Virginia forward De’Andre Hunter.

Garland can give them the shooting they desperately need around LeBron James. He is a prospect who only played five games this season because of injury at Vanderbilt, but has drawn comparisons to Porland's Damian Lillard.

Hunter brings versatility on the defensive end, an ability to defend most positions on the court, and led the Cavaliers to the national championship.

Garland left the combine earlier this month early, which drew speculation that he received a promise from a team in the lottery.

Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders is the latest to confirm the Garland-Hunter speculation. ESPN draft analyst Fran Fraschilla discussed Garland to Los Angeles on Monday during an appearance on SiriusXM Radio. K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Times reported that two teams picking higher than the Bulls made promises to Garland and fellow point guard Coby White.

The prevailing thought in NBA circles is DeAndre Hunter and Darius Garland https://t.co/NuiM5ndm3r — Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) May 25, 2019

R.J. BARRETT FALLING?

Could this all set up for Duke's R.J. Barrett to fall to the Cavaliers at No. 5?

The Sporting News' Sean Deveney wrote that the New York Knicks will consider Jarrett Culver at No. 3. Deveney added that some scouts and league executives believed Culver could have landed at No. 2, had the Cavs or Atlanta Hawks won that selection.

The idea of the Knicks considering him — coupled with the Lakers' mentioned possibilities — could stir up the draft.

However, Knicks legend Bernard King told The New York Post he wants Barrett in the Big Apple and paired with Kevin Knox.

“He’s a tremendous talent with an all-around game,’’ King told The Post. “He could put the ball on the floor and has a high basketball IQ. He runs the floor very well and he’s a good scorer. Today basketball is positionless. You can have two guys on the floor like Barrett and Kevin.”

MORE ON LAKERS' DYSFUNCTION

A week after Magic Johnson appeared on ESPN's "First Take," describing general manager Rob Pelinka as a backstabber, a report has surfaced from ESPN that paints just about everyone involved in an unflattering manner.

Baxter Holmes' report describes accounts from current and former team employees that Johnson and Pelinka berated staffers and inspired fear. They also made free-agent acquisitions without consent of the other and were responsible for tampering investigations.

"We all had the same reaction that the basketball world did, like what the f--- are we doing?" a Lakers coach member told ESPN. "Not only are we not getting shooting, but we're also getting every basket case left on the market."

LeBron James' agent, Rich Paul, also reportedly tried to get coach Luke Walton fired and influence trades. Paul also rode on the team plane. The agent was called "destructive" and a "culture killer" by sources in the report.

"Coaches know Rich is trying to get them fired, and players know Rich is trying to get them traded," one agent told ESPN.

The Lakers could create up to $38.1 million in cap space this offseason, the seventh most in the NBA according to Spotrac.com.

MORANT SIGNS WITH NIKE

Ja Morant announced Monday on his Instagram account that he signed a multiyear endorsement deal with Nike.

"All my life my parents worked for a check," he wrote. "Now I'm proud to say I work for the check."

Morant is expected to be picked No. 2 overall in the draft to Memphis, behind New Orleans and Zion Williamson, who has yet to sign a shoe deal.

PELICANS' NEXT STEP

New Orleans' new executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin and general manager Trajan Langdon were rumored to have met Monday with Anthony Davis.

The rumor comes from a Bleacher Report staffer and has not been confirmed, but Davis is expected to maintain his desire to leave the Pelicans.

AD, David Griffin and Trajan Langdon are meeting today. — Preston Ellis (@PrestonEllis) May 27, 2019

LUE PURSUED BY ROCKETS, PELICANS

Former Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue could end up in Houston or New Orleans, as an assistant, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Both teams want him as lead assistant, but Lue believed to be holding out for a head coaching job.

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