The Los Angeles Lakers are leaving no stone unturned as they prepare for the NBA Draft on June 22nd. While most are focusing their attention on whether the team will select Lonzo Ball, Josh Jackson, or De’Aaron Fox with the second overall pick, they also have the 28th pick to use on another young player.
With that in mind, the Lakers have been bringing in a number of prospects for workouts, and they have annouced via their Twitter page that another group is coming in on Monday. This group won’t include any big names like Sunday’s group did when Dennis Smith Jr. worked out, but there are a few players to keep an eye on:
Monday morning the #LakeShow will host six more draft prospects: https://t.co/C8mReji0Vu pic.twitter.com/iJium2E6ag
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 11, 2017
Of the group, only Wesley Iwundu is currently on the DraftExpress.com mock draft, and he doesn’t show up until the 56th pick. Kentucky’s Isaiah Briscoe also has some name value, but his shooting woes may prevent him from being selected.
However, the Lakers still have plenty of reason to work out this group. The pre-draft period allows teams to visit up close and personal with players in a way that league rules will prohibit them from doing if and when they make it onto an NBA team. A good impression now could pay off down the road if a prospect breaks out, and information gleaned could prove useful in trades or free agency signings.
Additionally, the Lakers may want to try to scoop up some of these players if they go undrafted to help populate their team for the Las Vegas Summer League, as they did last season with Notre Dame’s Zach Auguste. They could also bring them into the South Bay Lakers, the organization’s G-League squad. The newly renamed G-League has developed a number of prospects for the NBA, including Lakers call-up David Nwaba.