The Los Angeles Lakers have been hard at work for weeks doing homework on all of the top prospects in the upcoming NBA Draft. Lonzo Ball, De’Aaron Fox, and Josh Jackson have gotten much of the attention, but the top overall prospect is Washington guard Markelle Fultz.
Most draft experts and scouts seem to have Fultz atop their draft board as the 6’5 guard can seemingly do everything on the court. He is widely expected to be the top overall pick by the Boston Celtics.
Of course nothing is ever guaranteed and if the Celtics were to pass on him, the Lakers would be able to draft him at no. 2. The Lakers have yet to work Fultz out, but according to Brad Turner of the L.A. Times, they will meet with him:
Lakers will meet with guard Markelle Fultz sometime this week.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) June 13, 2017
It would still seem unlikely that Fultz drops to the Lakers, but it is smart for the Lakers to at least meet him and get to know him. Whether or not they get a workout with Fultz remains to be seen, but the Lakers will at least be able to get a feel for Fultz as a person and how he would fit into the organization.
Fultz has drawn comparisons to the likes of Brandon Roy and Gilbert Arenas because of his ability to do everything on the offensive side of the ball. He is a great ball-handler, shooter, and passer capable of playing both on and off the ball. He also has all of the tools to be a factor defensively.
As it stands now Fultz is still the overwhelming favorite to be the first pick and head to Boston, but at least the Lakers will be able to get to know him just in case something changes.
In his lone season at Washington Fultz averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks
