Along with the no. 2 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers also hold the no. 28 pick thanks to a trade deadline week switch with the Houston Rockets that sent Lou Williams to Texas for a first round selection and Corey Brewer.
LA no longer holds its second round pick, as the 2019 first round pick owed to Orlando as part of the Dwight Howard trade converted to two second round picks when LA held onto its 2017 NBA Draft pick. The Lakers' 2018 first round pick, regardless of where it lands, will go to Philadelphia, and their second round pick will go to Orlando in 2018, but the team will have Denver's second round pick in 2018.
Back to 2017, the Lakers are opening their doors and working out six players on Monday: Nigel Williams-Goss from Gonzaga, Dominique Hawkins from Kentucky; V.J. Beachem from Nortre Dame; Thomas Bryant from Indiana; Andrew White from Syracuse; Kyle Kuzma from Utah. These players could potentially be selections with the Lakers' no. 28 pick.
Unlike the no. 2 pick, which likely only involves working out three to five guys, the no. 28 pick could result in the Lakers working out 20, 30 of even 50 players. Back in 2015, LA held the no. 27 pick and the no. 34 pick and worked out scores of players ahead of the draft.
Based on recent history, Monday is likley closer to the beginning of the workouts than the end, as the team should try to get a look at as many players as possible. When the team held numerous workout sessions and invited in media afterwards in the summer of 2015, ultimately, Larry Nance Jr. stood out to the Lakers. A couple seasons later, the Lakers look like they made the right pick at no. 27 of the 2015 NBA Draft. At the time, Nance had been projected as a second round pick by most experts and outsiders. Although, the Lakers selected Anthony Brown at no. 34, and Brown is no longer with the team.
When picking second overall, the team only has to take into account one other team's pick before going and getting its top rated prospect. At no. 28, the variance makes it nearly impossible to figure out which players will be available. So, working out players that potentially drop on draft day allows the team to be more aware of a potential selection. In addition, the draft workouts may yield an overlooked diamond in the rough, as was the case with Nance in 2015 at no. 28 and with Ivica Zubac at no. 32 in 2016.
While the Lakers also expect to bring in the top prospects like Lonzo Ball, Markelle Fultz, Josh Jackson, De'Aaron Fox and Jayson Tatum for the no. 2 pick, the majority of the upcoming workouts should consist of lesser known prospects likely to be available for selection late in the first round.
