Like every offseason, the Lakers begin to scout for talent and work out prospects in hopes of drafting or signing them to either a summer league or training camp contract. This offseason will be a little different for the Lakers with Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka in charge. The staff at Lakers Outsiders will track and give information about every prospect that the Lakers workout before the NBA draft.
Zach Collins, F, Gonzaga
Collins is a projected late-lottery pick this season. A rare one-and-done from Gonzaga, Collins is a stretch forward with a solid defensive acumen. While he won’t be an option at the second pick, he’d be an intriguing option if the Lakers look to move back into the lottery.
Avry Holmes, G, Clemson
A four-year player for Clemson, Holmes will be an undrafted free agent option for the Lakers. In his senior season, Holmes averaged 10.3 points per game on 44.2 percent three-point shooting.
Cole Huff, F, Creighton
A sharp-shooting stretch four, Huff is a potential undrafted free agent candidate. A Nevada legend, the 6’8″ power forward averaged 9.1 points on 46.2 percent three-point shooting last season.
Luke Nelson, G, UC-Irvine
Another undrafted free agent option, Nelson led UC-Irvine last year with an average of 17.0 points per game last season 42.7 percent three-point shooting. At 6’3″, Nelson will likely see the majority of his time at point guard at the next level and averaged 3.1 assists per game last season.
Luke Petrasek, F, Columbia
A 6’10” stretch big, Petrasek is yet another undrafted free agent option. Last season for Columbia, Petrasek averaged 15.2 points on 36.5 percent three-point shooting with 5.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists.
Seab Webster, F, Alabama-Huntsville
An undersized big man, Seab Webster averaged 18.7 points per game with 8.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game on 41.6 percent three-point shooting. A likely undrafted free agent, Webster’s limited height (6’6″) and wingspan (6’7″) are both tall orders to overcome.
Jabari Bird, G, Cal
A 6’6″ shooting guard, Bird is a guy who will likely be an undrafted free agent. For Cal last season, Bird put up 14.1 points on 37.8 percent three-point shooting with 1.0 assist per game. His 6’8″ wingspan isn’t enough to grab scouts interest.
James Blackmon Jr., G, Indiana
A sharpshooter out of IU, Blackmon will likely go undrafted on Draft night. Blackmon was a knockdown shooter, connecting on 42.3 percent of his threes last season while scoring 17 points per game. His range and three-point shooting ability will be his calling card.
Tyler Cavanaugh, F, George Washington
Another likely undrafted free agent option, Cavanaugh is a 23-year old, 6’9″ forward. Last year for George Washington, Cavanaugh scored 18.3 points per game, hitting 40.9 percent of his threes.
Isaiah Hicks, F, North Carolina
Hicks is a 6’8″ power forward who will be an undrafted free agent. Last season, he averaged 5.4 rebounds per game with 11.6 points and played a big role in a loaded front court for the eventual national champions.
Devin Robinson, F, Florida
As a hybrid forward, Robinson is an intriguing player. Standing at 6’8″ with nearly a 7’1″ wingspan, Robinson could be an interesting undrafted free agent signing.
Michael Smith, G, Cal Baptist
Last season for Division II Cap Baptist, Smith put up 24.9 points per game on 38.4 percent three-point shooting. Smith added 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game as well. Will be an undrafted free agent option.
Markelle Fultz, G, Washington
The consensus top pick in the draft, Fultz is expected to be the top pick in the Draft by the Boston Celtics. Fultz played for a putrid program in Washington, but still managed to put up 23.2 points 5.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. His 41.3 percent three-point shooting helps show how solid of an offensive player he is.
De’Aaron Fox, G, Kentucky
Fox made a name for himself with a strong run in the NCAA Tournament, which included out-playing top-five pick Lonzo Ball in a win in the Sweet 16. While still an option with the second pick, the momentum on Fox seems have slowed. Despite that, Fox is a tenacious defender and one of the best athletes in the draft. His lack of a shooting touch is a major red flag and one that will likely keep him from being a top-three pick. Draft Express currently lists him fourth
Isaac Humphries, C, Kentucky
Humphries found himself as the odd man out in each of his two seasons at Kentucky. A 7′ wingspan and nearly 9′ standing reach add some intrigue to him, but Humphries scored just 2.8 points per game last season. He is expected to go undrafted.
Torian Graham, G, Arizona State
Statistically, Graham looked good in college, averaging 18.6 points per game at Arizona State. However, at 6’3″, he’s a small shooting guard and is likely to go undrafted. He could be an intriguing Summer League/D-League player.
Wesley Iwundu, G, Kansas State
Ranked No. 56 in Draft Express’ Mock Draft, Iwundu could be an option for the Lakers as an undrafted free agent or possibly a sleeper with the team’s late first-round pick. Iwundu is a 6’7″ guard with a 7’1″ wingspan. He scored 13.0 points per game last season, but his intrigue comes on the defensive end.
Luke Kornet, F/C, Vanderbilt
Expected to be an undrafted player, Kornet is an interesting big man who stands above seven foot but has three-point range. Could be an undrafted free agent prospect.
Ben Moore, F, SMU
Moore is a forward who averaged 11.5 points per game last season for SMU. His lack of three-point range is concerning. Moore is likely to go undrafted.
Rodney Pryor, G, Georgetown
Pryor transferred to Georgetown for his junior season last year and put up 18 points per game for the Hoyas, hitting 41.4 percent of his three-pointers. At 6’4″, his 6’11” wingspan makes him interesting as a prospect, but he is expected to go undrafted
Dennis Smith, Jr., PG, NC State
Currently projected at 10th overall, Smith would only be a legitimate target for the Lakers if they wish to trade down from the second overall pick. What Smith lacks in height at 6-3, he makes up for with extreme athleticism. He was immensely productive at NC State, averaging 18.1 points and 6.2 assists per game in his lone season. If the Lakers find a trade they like for their top pick, Smith could be a worthwhile target for them.
Wesley Alves Da Silva, SF , Brazil
The first international prospect in Lakers’ workouts, Da Silva has intriguing length. He is a defensive prospect with very raw tools on the offensive end, making him a potential undrafted target.
Milton Doyle, SG, Loyola
At 23.6 years old, Doyle is not expected to be drafted on June 22. He was a solid shooter and playmaker in college, albeit with some turnover issues.
Jeremy Hollowell, SF, Georgia State
Hollowell made only 34 percent of his 5.5 three-point attempts per game and averaged more turnovers than assists in his senior season at Georgia State. He is not projected to be drafted.
Tyler Lydon, SF/PF, Syracuse
Lydon is a legitimate option for the Lakers with their 28th overall pick. The lack of shooting bigs on the roster could make the 21-year-old a prime target for LA. He shot 39 percent from three last season (as well as 83.6 percent from the free throw line) but also did damage inside, grabbing 8.6 rebounds per game.
Matt Thomas, SG, Iowa State
A stellar three-point shooter, Thomas would be a worthwhile project as an undrafted free agent. He hit 44.5 percent of his threes in his senior season. He is not, however, a great secondary playmaker, averaging only 1.7 assists in 31 minutes per game.
Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas
The Lakers worked out Josh Jackson on Thursday in Sacramento. All the details regarding Jackson can be found here.
Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
There’s not much that needs to be explained about Lonzo Ball that people won’t already know. Ball’s one season at UCLA saw him turn around a fledgling program, making them a national title contender. Ball is a unique prospect with ridiculous range, an uncanny feel for the game and underrated athleticism. Check out our full coverage of his highly-attended workout.
Damyean Dotson, SG, Houston
As a senior for the Houston Cougars, Dotson showcased his ability to stretch the floor as a shooter as he hit on 44% of his shots from deep. Of the 3-pointers he took in college, 197 of them were catch-and-shoot opportunities and he thrived in that area, knocking down 47%. Dotson stands at 6-foot-5, 205 lbs and started his collegiate career at Oregon where he earned All-Pac 12 freshman team honors.
PJ Dozier, SG, South Carolina
In his sophomore season, Dozier was able to impact the game in a ton of ways helping the South Carolina Gamecocks along the way to a 2017 Final Four appearance. The 20-year old has great size for the off-guard position at 6-foot-7 and a wingspan of 6-foot-11. His elite physical tools and being an above average finisher can make the learning curve of the NBA easier for Dozier.
Semi Ojeleye, SF/PF, SMU
Ojeleye is one of the more versatile prospects in the draft. With insane athletic ability and strength, he is someone who projects as a small ball big even though he is only 6-foot-7. His ability to handle the ball in the open court, knock down open 3-pointers, and get to the free throw line were huge for SMU last season. Ojeleye also provides someone that can evolve into a great defender given his quickness and strength.
Johnathan Motley, PF/C, Baylor
The 22-year-old Motley is projected to go 38th overall by DraftExpress. He was highly productive last season at Baylor, averaging 17.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. His lack of shooting makes him a power forward or center prospect in the pros but he is very undersized among NBA bigs. Nevertheless, he does seem to have potential as a shooter and defender, making him an intriguing prospect.
L.J. Rose, PG, BYU
At 23.5 years old and out of BYU, Rose is not expected to be drafted this June. He was an inefficient scorer in college but flashed some playmaking skills, averaging 4.7 assists in 26 minutes per game last season.
Sindarius Thornwell, SG, South Carolina
The SEC Player of the Year, Thornwell is expected to go 57th overall in the upcoming draft. The 6-3 guard is nearly 23 years old, limiting his ceiling. However, he could be ready to contribute right away, having averaged 21.4 points per game last season. He is a solid shooter from deep but his size limits his finishing ability at the rim.
Josh Hart, SG, Villanova
Villanova guard Josh Hart is projected to go 44th overall by Draft Express but he could be an option for the Lakers at #28. A great outside shooter, Hart was able to be a very efficient scorer on a high volume for the Wildcats. The Lakers have already held a meeting with Hart so he may be someone they’re closely monitoring ahead of the draft.
T.J. Cline, F, Richmond
Cline is an almost-23-year-old forward out of Richmond where he put up very productive numbers. He averaged 18.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists. He seemingly has potential as a secondary or tertiary playmaker but his lack of shooting limits ho good he can be. Moreover, those numbers were accomplished against lesser competition. Therefore, Draft Express does not list Cline, the son of Kings’ assistant coach Nancy Lieberman, among its top 100 prospects.
Jawun Evans, PG, Oklahoma St.
Evans is among many players who could find themselves selected with the Lakers’ 28th overall pick. He is currently projected to go 34th by Draft Express. It would be surprising for the Lakers to select another point guard after presumably drafting Lonzo Ball. Nevertheless, the speedy 21-year-old is someone to keep an eye on despite his 5-10 frame as a playmaker and shooter off the bench.
Monte Morris, PG, Iowa State
Morris is another late-draft point guard prospect that would make more sense for the Lakers if they pass on Ball. He is projected to go 52nd overall and if he drops out of the draft entirely, he would be a good addition to the Lakers’ summer league team. Morris was both a great scorer and playmaker at Iowa State, leading his team to the NCAA Tournament. He shot 37.8 percent from deep and averaged 6.2 assists to only 1.2 turnovers per game.
Roger Moute A Bidias, F, Cal
The brother of Clippers’ forward Luc Richard Mbah A Moute, Bidias seems to have the same affinity for not hitting the broad side of a barn from deep. He played only 12 minutes per game in his last season at Cal.
Tyler Roberson, F, Syracuse
Projected to go undrafted by Draft Express, Roberson is a tweener in every sense of the word. He can’t shoot so he can’t play as a small forward full time, but his 6-7 frame makes it difficult to play him as a power forward. His wingspan makes him a slightly intriguing defensive prospect.
Cameron Oliver, PF/C, Nevada
The 6-8 Oliver is not a household name due to his playing for a non-power conference team. However, he has some legitimate NBA skills. He improved his shooting in two seasons at Nevada, hitting 38 percent of his threes as a sophomore meaning he should at least be a good mid-range shooter in the pros. He has elite athleticism and good defensive instincts although he sometimes lacks the game-long focus. He’s an improved passer but still needs plenty of work in that department.
DraftExpress has projected Oliver as the 52nd overall pick in the draft but we all know the Lakers are picking him second overall.
Jaron Blossomgame, SF/PF, Clemson
DraftExpress has Blossomgame mocked to go 53rd overall in the NBA Draft. The 23-year-old is a poor shooter and playmaker, meaning he is of little offensive use to the Lakers. He has potential as a defender but he hasn’t demonstrated a can’t-miss ability on that end, either.
Sterling Brown, SG, SMU
The brother of former Lakers champion Shannon Brown, Sterling is projected to go 59th overall in the NBA Draft. The 23-year-old was an elite shooter in college, hitting nearly 45 percent of his threes. He has potential as a 3-and-D prospect, something the Lakers desperately need and would love to find in the undrafted free agent mix.
Tyler Dorsey, SG, Oregon
The second former Duck to workout for the Lakers in as many days, Dorsey is projected to be the 49th overall pick in the draft by DraftExpress. Dorsey is a versatile scorer and is among the many good shooters working out for the Lakers this offseason, hitting 42.4 percent of his deep shots last season.
Ivan Rabb, PF/C, Cal
Rabb is maybe the biggest name to work out for the Lakers so far. DraftExpress has the Cal sophomore projected to go 28th overall to the Lakers in their latest mock draft. Rabb is an intriguing prospect because he was a potential lottery pick had he left Cal after his freshman season but opted to stay one more year. He has largely disappointed since being a top high school prospect. He was not an efficient scorer. Nevertheless, he has great physical tools as a mobile big man and that is always valuable.
Xavier Rathan-Mayes, PG/SG, Florida State
Rathan-Meyes is a decent scorer when going downhill and has shown potential in using screens to set himself up. Howver, he is a poor shooter and not much of a playmaker. DraftExpress projects he will go undrafted as he is not among their top 100 prospects.
Bryce Alford, G, UCLA
While a different UCLA guard has been linked to the Lakers all offseason, Bryce Alford was among players to workout for the Lakers on Monday. He is not among the top 100 prospects for DraftExpress so it’s unlikely that he comes close to being drafted. However, the 43-percent three-point shooter could potentially have a summer league spot as the Lakers tend to enjoy signing local players for those opportunities.
Dwayne Bacon, SF, Florida St
A late second-round prospect, Bacon could be a target for a bought pick or an undrafted free agent spot. Bacon is a good finisher with his physical tools allowing him to attack closeouts. But he is not much of a shooter and that will limit him in the NBA if he does make it to that level.
Jordan Bell, PF, Oregon
Oregon power forward Jordan Bell is one of the top prospects the Lakers have worked out, so far. Draft Express has the 6-9 junior going 33rd overall in its latest mock draft, making him a prime candidate for LA’s 28th overall pick. He is effectively an undersized center from an NBA point-of-view, given his lack of shooting ability but his defense and rebounding can be legitimate tools in the pros.
Amida Brimah, C, UCONN
The senior center is not among DraftExpress’ top 100 prospects. His biggest skill is his shot blocking as he averaged 2.7 blocks per game last season in just over 25 minutes of playing time.
Kennedy Meeks, C, North Carolina
Standing at 6-9, Meeks would be an undersized center in the NBA, accounting for some of the reasoning behind not being a top 100 prospect per DraftExpress. However, he was a phenomenal rebounder at the college level, averaging 9.4 in 24.4 minutes per game. However, he is not much of a defender and has not improved since a statistically monstrous freshman season.
Derrick Walton, Jr., PG, Michigan
Projected to go undrafted, Walton does possess some important skills outside of sharing a last name with the Lakers’ head coach. He shot 42 percent from three last season and averaged five assists compared to 1.7 turnovers. He is, however, undersized and that leads to concern over his defensive ability.
L.J. Peak, SG, Georgetown
A 21-year-old junior, Peak is one of six players to be worked out by the Lakers on Tuesday, according to Serena Winters. Peak’s length makes him for his relative lack of size and his hot shooting to finish the year adds intrigue to what was otherwise a disappointing season from behind the arc. Currently ranked as the 47th best prospect by Draft Express, Peak has potential as an offensive weapon, but it’s unclear if he will be drafted before the Lakers can purchase a late pick or sign him as an undrafted free agent.
Josh Hawkinson, PF, Washington State
A 22-year-old power forward, Hawkinson was incredibly efficient as a scorer in college, hitting 41.5 percent of his threes. He was also productive as a rebounder, grabbing more than ten boards a game. With an improved defensive ability, he is enticing in NBA circles for his size and shooting combination. Nevertheless, the senior is currently expected to go undrafted by Draft Express.
J.J. Frazier, PG, Georgia
A 5-10 point guard, Georgia’s J.J. Frazier put up big production in the SEC, scoring over 19 points per game. However, he was not an efficient scorer, hitting only 46.7 percent of his two-point shots and 31.3 percent of his threes. It’s unlikely that the 21-year-old gains any draft traction so he could be an undrafted target for LA.
Sidy Djitte, C, Clemson
Djitte is not in Draft Express’ top 100 prospects, so it’s unlikely that the Clemson senior is a draft candidate for the Lakers. With elite size, Djitte could prove to be a great defender given the opportunity. But he does not offer too many other NBA skills at this point in his career.
Kadeem Allen, PG, Arizona
Allen was a great shooter in college, hitting 42.7 percent of his threes in his senior season at Arizona. However, his playmaking left much to be desired as he averaged three assists and two turnovers per game in 30 minutes of playing time. Draft Express projects Allen to go undrafted in June.
Jamel Artis, SF, Pittsburgh
According to Michael Scott of Basketball Insiders, the Lakers will work out Jamel Artis on Tuesday. A senior, Artis is not projected to be among the 60 draftees by Draft Express. However, he does have a chance at vaulting into the conversation. Artis has good size, giving him the potential to be an effective defender at the NBA level. Add to that his improved shooting (he averaged 18.2 points per game, shooting 39.2 percent from beyond the arc last season), and the senior could prove to be a valuable addition, likely as an undrafted free agent.
Dominique Hawkins, G, Kentucky
Previously unreported, Hawkins joined the group workout on Monday. The 23-year-old is small by NBA standards, topping out at six feet in shoes, but his 44-inch vertical is tantalizing, to say the least. Nevertheless, he is not expected to be drafted and would likely only be worth a flyer on the summer league squad.
Thomas Bryant, F/C, Indiana
Indiana big man Thomas Bryant is among six players the Lakers plan to workout on Monday (May 22), per Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News. The 6-10 19-year-old averaged 12.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game and has shown some potential to be a stretch-big, hitting 38.3 percent of his threes last year. Draft Express projects Bryant as the 36th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, making him a prime candidate for the Lakers with the 28th pick by way of the Houston Rockets.
Nigel Williams-Goss, PG, Gonzaga
Joining Bryant in the group workout on Monday is Williams-Goss, a 6-4 point guard from Gonzaga. The 22-year-old is projected as the 58th pick, meaning the Lakers are likely targeting him as either a bought pick late in the second round or as a potential undrafted free agent. A jack-of-all-trades, Williams-Goss led Gonzaga to a stellar season, averaging 16.8 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. With a 6’7″ wingspan, Williams-Goss has some potential as a perimeter defender.
Kyle Kuzma, PF, Utah
The nicely proportioned 6-9 Kuzma is an offensively talented power forward, projected to go 44th in the NBA draft by Draft Express. He is not a stellar shooter (hitting only 32 percent of his threes and 67 percent of his free throws) but was nevertheless able to average 16.3 points per game and show enough potential in the shooting department. He’s likely not a prime candidate for the Lakers to draft given the number of bigs on the roster already.
V.J. Beachem, SF, Notre Dame
The 22-year-old Beachem is not expected to be drafted this June, listed as the 81st best prospect on Draft Express. He was a largely inefficient scorer in college and averaged more turnovers than assists in his senior season. He does, however, have the physical tools to be a disruptive defender on the wings.
Melo Trimble, PG, Maryland
Trimble is expected to go undrafted in June so he’d likely be a summer league candidate for the Lakers. He is small at 6’2″, is not a good three-point shooter, and has a bad assist-to-turnover ration. However, he was a good scorer when he got to the rim, averaging over 17 points per game in his junior year at Maryland.
Andrew White, SG, Syracuse
At 6-7, White has great size for a shooting guard. Coupled with his great shooting at Syracuse (he hit 40 percent of his threes last year), he has legitimate potential as a 3-and-D prospect, something the Lakers desperately need. Nevertheless, at nearly 24 years old, White is not expected to be drafted, topping out at 83rd in Draft Express’ best prospects.
Nigel Hayes, F, Wisconsin
According to Mike Bresnahan of Spectrum Sportsnet, the Los Angeles Lakers will be working out Wisconsin forward Nigel Hayes on Friday. Hayes was First Team All-Big Ten in 2016 and was named the Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year entering the 2016 season. As a senior last season, Hayes averaged 14 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from three. Draft Express ranks Nigel Hayes as the 17th-best senior, but is not currently listed in their mock draft.
Tony Bradley, C, North Carolina
The Los Angeles Lakers are planning to work out UNC freshman Tony Bradley on Friday, according to ESPN’s Jeff Goodman. Bradley is a 6-10 center who averaged a nice 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while playing 14.5 minutes for the national champs. He is currently projected to go 42nd overall by DraftExpress, so he could be a target with the Lakers’ late first-round pick or a purchased second-rounder. However, he has not yet signed with an agent so he could opt to return to college for his sophomore year.
Deng Adel, SF/PF, Louisville
The Lakers are planning on working out Louisville sophomore Deng Adel. The forward is a raw prospect, not currently projected to be drafted by DraftExpress. And while Lakers fans are probably wary of anyone named Deng after Luol’s contract status has berated them for months, Adel is probably someone to look at as a potential training camp or summer league invite. Adel hasn’t officially signed with an agent, however, and could opt to return to Louisville, which is probably the likely scenario.
Deng Adel worked out for the Bucks, today. The Lakers and Jazz are next. He’s already worked out for the Thunder, Spurs, and Bulls (twice).
— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) May 16, 2017
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T.J. Williams, PG , Northeastern
The Lakers have worked out Northeastern senior T.J. Williams, perhaps targeting him as a solution for their lack of playmakers. The 6’3″ point guard averaged 21.4 points and 5.3 assists per game in his final year of college ball.
Williams is not a well-known prospect; at 22 years old and having played at a non-powerhouse school, he is not expected to be drafted by DraftExpress, which ranks him as the 32nd best senior in the NCAA. If the Lakers are legitimately interested in Williams, they would either need to trade for or buy a late second round pick or sign him as an undrafted free agent.
Tacko Fall, C, UCF
On Thursday, the Lakers worked out the University of Central Florida center Tacko Fall (H/T Silver Screen and Roll). In his sophomore campaign, Fall averaged 11 points and 9.5 rebounds, while blocking 2.6 shots per game.
Fall is freakishly tall at 7’6”. Fall, who is originally from Senegal is only 21 years old, posted a picture of his workout with Magic Johnson.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTsLDHwgR1K/?taken-by=tackofall99
Johnson, who is 6′ 9″ looks short in comparison to Fall.
Fall is yet to sign an agent or officially declare for the NBA draft.
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