The Los Angeles Lakers hold the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft, giving them a plethora of options. Many expect them to go with Kentucky center Karl-Anthony Towns or Duke center Jahlil Okafor, but there are a few other scenarios they're considering in the days leading up to the draft:
Los Angeles Meets With Justise Winslow At NBA Draft Combine
The Los Angeles Lakers may not be able to do much better than Duke small forward Justise Winslow — a top-three type talent in any other draft class - if they don't draft a big man.
According to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News, the team was one of a large group of teams who met with Winslow at the NBA Draft Combine.
Winslow would provide an instant impact on both ends for the Lakers, as he’s a skilled small-ball power forward adept at both shooting and locking down on opposing threats big and small.
His 12.6-point, 6.5-rebound average during the 2014-15 regular season was good enough, but he pushed his game to another level in Duke’s title run, averaging 14.3 points and 9.3 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament.
Scouts Prefer D'Angelo Russell Over Emmanuel Mudiay
However, Los Angeles will probably draft a point guard if they pass on a big man, and Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay, who played professionally in China, are considered to be the top two point guards in the draft and top-five picks.
Which one would the Lakers pick? Long-time NBA scouting consultant Ryan Blake says they would be smart to go with Russell:
“They’re different players. Mudiay is a combo guard and he attacks the rim more. He’s got great crafty hands and is a good floor man. He doesn’t shoot the ball well. He shoots 33% from behind the arc, but he only shot 21 percent from shots beyond the arc. When he does get behind the line, he’s shooting under 60% in free throws. He’s attacking and scoring. For Russell, game comes so slow to him. He works the pick and roll extremely well. He can shoot from deep and get inside for floaters. The angles on his passing are different. I give Russell the edge. That’s the type of player I want.”
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