Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox is planning to work out for the Lakers next month, according to Mark Medina of the SoCal News Group.
As Medina noted, Fox’s decision is hardly surprising. The former Wildcat will probably be drafted within the top five and is considered the best guard prospect in the draft outside of Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball.
The Lakers, of course, are widely expected to take Ball, the ex-UCLA star, with the second overall pick (assuming Fultz goes to the Celtics at first overall). However, both Fox and former Kansas forward Josh Jackson are seen as potential dark horse candidates if Magic Johnson and co. aren’t as high on Ball come draft time.
The Lakers interviewed Fox at the NBA Draft Combine on May 10, and Johnson was in attendance during Fox’s incredible NCAA Tournament performance against Ball and the Bruins on March 24. Fox dropped 39 points and four assists while holding his counterpart to just 10 points and eight assists, sending Kentucky to the Elite Eight and boosting his draft stock in the process.
In his first and only season as a Wildcat, Fox averaged 16.2 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.9 points. He’s a freakish athlete with the speed of a John Wall or Russell Westbrook and a better defender than Ball, but his 3-point shot (24.6% in college) leaves a lot to be desired.
Even though all signs still point to the Lakers drafting Ball, it’s good to see the new front office still doing their due diligence. Fox has excelled in front of Magic before, and he’s definitely earned the chance to do so again next month.
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