The 2017 NBA Draft is only a couple weeks away with the Los Angeles Lakers owning the No. 2 pick for the third straight year. The storied franchise will continue evaluating players leading up to draft day on June 22 with the team recently working out UCLA’s Lonzo Ball at their practice facility.
Ball, who is expected to go to the Lakers at second overall, is among a total of 10 prospects that has been invited to the draft later this month, according to Jonathan Givony of Draft Express:
Ten players, including projected top-two picks Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball, have been invited to attend the 2017 NBA draft at the Barclays Center in New York on June 22nd, league sources told DraftExpress.
The former Bruins star will be joined by the following nine players, according to Givony:
The invited players, in alphabetical order:
Lonzo Ball
Zach Collins
De’Aaron Fox
Markelle Fultz
Jonathan Isaac
Josh Jackson
Lauri Markkanen
Malik Monk
Dennis Smith
Jayson Tatum
Although all signs point to the Lakers taking Ball at No. 2, there are a few other players in this group of 10 that may get serious consideration from Los Angeles. The team will get a look at Jackson on Thursday in Sacramento and Fox on Tuesday of next week in an individual workout at the team’s practice facility.
Duke’s Jayson Tatum could also get consideration at No. 2. There has been no indication as to whether the team has reached out to or spoken with the former Blue Devil about scheduling a workout, but he could get a call from the Lakers brass in the weeks leading up to the draft.
As for Markelle Fultz, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that the Boston Celtics will select him at No. 1. Fultz may not work out for any other teams.