The NBA Draft process has begun kicking into high gear. Last week, the NBA held its annual Pre-Draft Combine, and earlier this week the NBA held the draft lottery where the Lakers fell one spot and will pick seventh overall.
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This draft is extremely deep, and now players have begun working out in groups for scouts and general managers for every team. Two of the most intriguing and athletic prospects are Arizona’s Aaron Gordon and UCLA’s Zach LaVine.
After participating at the BDA Sports workout today, both prospects mentioned the Lakers as a great destination according to the LA Times’ Eric Pincus:
Both Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine mentioned Lakers as a great destination at 7
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) May 23, 2014
Gordon is a very viable possibility for the Lakers at the seventh spot. One of the best athletes in the draft, Gordon is an excellent rebounder and defender already, but is still raw offensively. Many scouts compare him to Shawn Marion or Blake Griffin.
LaVine on the other hand is a combo guard who some hope can translate into a point guard in the NBA. He has the size to play both guard positions and is an excellent shooter from deep. Some compare him to Russell Westbrook because of his explosiveness and ability to play both guard positions.
Either of these guys would be good pickups for the Lakers, especially with the team looking to get younger and more athletic.
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At this time, Gordon would seem more likely, as he has been slotted in the 5-8 range for most of the year, while LaVine is looked at as more of a late-lottery selection. With both playing in the Pac-12, being in Los Angeles should be no issue for either of them.
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