Rumors about who the Los Angeles Lakers will take with the second overall selection have begun heating up. The team is set to workout Lonzo Ball on Wednesday, but reports continue to surface that some in the front office prefer Josh Jackson or De’Aaron Fox.
Fox will reportedly workout for the Lakers next week, but up until now there had been no news as to when the team might get a good look at Jackson. But according to Mike Bresnahan of Spectrum SportsNet, the Lakers will attend a Jackson workout in Sacramento on Thursday:
Laker execs plan to see Kansas SG/SF Josh Jackson work out Thursday in Sacramento, where he's conducted a majority of his workouts.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) June 6, 2017
Jackson is a very interesting prospect for the Lakers to consider as his calling card is definitely on the defensive end. Jackson takes pride in locking down opposing players, and he should be able to guard three or four positions in the NBA, especially once he adds some strength.
Offensively Jackson is a great ball-handler and creator off the dribble. He always looks to make the right play in setting teammates up, and he has ridiculous athleticism that allows him to finish above the rim.
There are some concerns with Jackson, particularly about his jump shot which was streaky at best during his time at Kansas. Additionally, there are some character concerns as he had a couple of off-court incidents while in college.
The Lakers going to watch him workout immediately after getting an up-close look at Ball will be good for them as they will be able to immediately compare the two as Ball’s showing will be fresh in their minds. With so many rumors floating around, things should finally begin to clear up inside the organization as they get these workouts in with the top prospects.
Whether it is Ball, Jackson, or Fox, the Lakers front office contingent will be sure to do all of their homework and consider all factors before deciding who is the next piece to add to their young core.