It is more or less a foregone conclusion that the Los Angeles Lakers will take either Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram with the second overall pick. While that will likely be the case, and it is leaning towards Ingram being the guy, that won’t stop the Lakers from doing their due diligence on other prospects.
One of the more interesting prospects is Marquette big man Henry Ellenson. His size, rebounding ability, and great shooting stroke has drawn comparisons to the likes of Kevin Love and he is expected to be taken in the lottery, if not the top-10.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, the Lakers will work out Ellenson on Saturday:
Marquette forward Henry Ellenson has a workout with the Lakers on Saturday, league sources say.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) June 3, 2016
Ellenson in all likelihood is not an option for the Lakers at number two, but it is always wise to get to know all of the top prospects because you never know what might happen. The Lakers are expected to keep their pick, but if a great deal suddenly materializes or a player unexpectedly drops, the Lakers could find themselves with an unexpected opportunity and they need to be familiar with those players.
Most see Ellenson as a ‘stretch-4’ but after measuring at just under seven feet tall at the Draft Combine, some believe Ellenson could play center in the NBA. He isn’t the most athletic big man, but he is mobile, with great footwork and a lot of offensive potential.
This is the first lottery prospect to have a workout scheduled with the Lakers, but the team has been working out many second-round players. It is likely only a matter of time before the majority of other top players work out for the Lakers as well.
