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The Los Angeles Lakers have certainly done their due diligence when researching and working out the prospects most likely to be available to them at the second overall pick in Lonzo Ball and Josh Jackson with having worked out for the Lakers twice by Draft night.
However, the Lakers appear to also be taking a look at some other prospects just outside that range. On Thursday, ESPN’s Chad Ford reported that the Lakers were finalizing a workout with Jayson Tatum.
Additionally, the Lakers are working toward finalizing a first workout with Jayson Tatum this weekend.
The news come in the middle of a piece discussing the Lakers exploring trade options for the second overall pick, offering up Phoenix with the fourth pick and Sacramento with the fifth pick as options.
Each of these scenarios would be the most likely route to Tatum ending up in a Lakers jersey.
Tatum is a 6’8″ forward with a 6’11” wing span and a scoring touch that led him to average 16.8 points per game last season for Duke. While his three-point shot was hit-and-miss on the season as he shot just 34.2 percent, his free throw percentage of 84.9 percent gives a better idea of his shooting stroke, especially from the mid-range.
Pairing Tatum with Brandon Ingram would give the Lakers a 1-2 punch on the wing that could be formidable down the road on both ends of the floor. While Tatum’s defense has some question marks, he has the size and length to make an impact on that end of the floor.
DraftExpress currently lists Tatum No. 4 on their big board, just behind Lonzo Ball and Josh Jackson.
