The Los Angeles Lakers have begun their pre-draft workouts and with the team holding three picks in next month’s draft, there are sure to be a lot of players brought in and evaluated.
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Last week, the Lakers moved up in the draft lottery to the second overall pick where most assume they will take a big man in either Jahlil Okafor or Karl-Anthony Towns. According to Lakers reporter Mike Trudell, however, general manager Mitch Kupchak said there will be plenty of other players in consideration:
Kupchak said anywhere from four to eight players could be in consideration for the No. 2 pick. Keeping options open and broad right now.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) May 26, 2015
Kupchak also noted that the workouts for those players being considered will likely take place next week according to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News:
Mitch said workouts for guys he'd consider at No. 2 will likely take place next week
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) May 26, 2015
Aside from Towns and Okafor, the most common names brought up in that draft range are point guards D’Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay. Russell was brought up by Byron Scott when discussing the second pick with Jim Rome, while the Lakers have reportedly been extremely high on Mudiay for a long time.
Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis has also been discussed in the top-five with some reports having him as high as second on some draft boards and Duke’s Justise Winslow would also seem to be a part of that group. Players like Willie Cauley-Stein, Stanley Johnson, Myles Turner, and Mario Hezonja are all in the 5-10 range by most draft experts and could be brought in as well.
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