The NBA Draft takes place next week and there are still a number of questions as to who the Lakers will draft. One major name, Julius Randle, works out today but another popular choice already worked out with the team.
At the group workouts two weeks ago, Oklahoma State point guard Marcus Smart worked out with the Lakers and apparently left a good impression on the team according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin:
Spoke to a Lakers source who was very impressed by Marcus Smart's workout with them: "Tenacity was off the charts"
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 17, 2014
This should come as no surprise to anyone who watched Smart during his time with the Cowboys. He has always demonstrated great heart, competitiveness, and a will to win that is unmatched by most players at any level.
The main questions surrounding Smart are whether he can control his emotions, as he had a couple of incidents last year, and whether he can improve on his shooting.
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The Lakers have had a major need at point guard for a few years now. With the Western Conference full of top point guards like Tony Parker, Chris Paul, and Damian Lillard, the Lakers need someone who can keep up with those guys.
Smart was part of the group workout a couple of weeks ago and was matched up with the likes of Tyler Ennis and Zach LaVine. If the Lakers do decide to keep the pick instead of trading it away, Smart could make a great choice.
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