There is little draft intrigue for the Lakers this year. I suppose there could always be a surprise, but the odds are the Lakers will either select Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram, aka the guy the 76ers do not select #1 overall.
There will still be plenty to discuss about both prospects (and maybe a few others) in the lead up to the draft, though. Strengths, weaknesses, fit, etc, etc. We will cover all that in the next three weeks. On the Lakers end, this process has long ago begun. And it will continue this week when the team works out Brandon Ingram.
Brandon Ingram (@B_Ingram13) scheduled for private workout with Lakers on Thursday, according to league sources.
— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) June 4, 2016
Like last year, the Lakers will host the player for a dinner on Wednesday night with the workout to follow on Thursday. Pretty routine stuff. For what it’s worth, the Lakers already met with Ingram at the Draft Combine last month, though he did not go through any drills or get measured. The Lakers will get their chance to do all of that this week.
There is not yet word on whether the Lakers will get a chance to put Ben Simmons through a workout. Last year, presumed #1 pick Karl Anthony-Towns, only worked out for the T’Wolves who selected ahead of the Lakers. Many times high draft picks, in an effort to control as much of the process as possible, only workout for teams who are within the expected range which they will be drafted — sometimes even avoiding teams they might not want to play for.
I am not suggesting Simmons would not want to play for the Lakers — his social media activity throughout the season would run counter to that idea anyway — but he might fall into the category of not working out for teams who he thinks are outside the range of where he believes he should be drafted. With the Lakers drafting 2nd, there’s merit to the argument he would only workout for Philly — and that’s if he even works out for them.
We will see how this all plays out. The Lakers have Ingram in this week and will continue their due diligence on the player many believe they will end up drafting later this month.
Chibi says
Ramona Shelburne reported Towns secretly worked out for Lakers.
Hannibal Chisum says
Will they work out someone for their 2nd. Pick? Thon Maker is the guy I’d like them to have enough courage to target!
Dorian says
You can’t be serious? Maker is a borderline 2nd round pick, no way anyone is looking at him in the lottery.
BigCitySid says
– Starting to look like Luke will be available sooner than later.
R says
H Chisum – T Maker will go closer to 32nd than 2nd I think.
Doc says
Simmons may not work out for the lakers to also avoid the sixer workout and not be obviously disrespectful. I do like the fact that ingram seems to be more humble and cooperative
macster says
I love Ingram’s game and most of all his character, which leads me to this. My thinking is that we should avoid as much as possible any guys with character issues. It’s just not worth it in the long. We are building a team for the long haul and we should not rush the process and do it the right way.
M~
matt says
Brandon ingram high school footage, he is insane, ball skills, spin moves, coast to coast, dunks, blocks, totally insane high school player
matt says
Hot topic of the day, klay thompson said “the warriors could beat the showtime lakers”
Also stephen a smith said, “jerry west doesn’t deserve to be the nba logo”