I hope that is typical media bias. I know that most Suns fans are a little hesitant to do a deal with the Lakers since they really don't have anyone to part with that would work in terms of salary or as a need for us but there is the Lebron/James Jones connection there. The media typically assumes that the Lakers will land whoever they want though and they've been doing that for quite some time. I know it's been that way in terms of free agency but it's also been a thing they've done with trades also, like how they were the favorites to trade for Kawhi this past summer and also Paul George a year earlier. So long as we're just hearing rumors right now though I wouldn't put any sort of faith in the idea that they're favorites though.
I think their pick might be more valuable than a number of other teams because they should finish in the bottom half of playoff teams in the West while Philly has a chance to get home court advantage throughout the Eastern playoffs and that would put their pick somewhere between 26-30. I'd imagine the Lakers pick will land in the 20-25 range. So if we're getting a pick in return in addition to a player I'd rather have the Lakers pick if we're only looking at picks from teams interested in acquiring him.
