The Los Angeles Lakers were obviously somewhat disappointed with the results of last week’s lottery.
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The team is rarely in the lottery and clearly hoped to make a move into the top three of the 2014 NBA Draft despite finishing with only the sixth-worst record. Instead, the Cleveland Cavaliers jumped from the ninth-overall pick to the first overall pick, meaning each of the top eight moved down a slot, giving the Lakers the seventh-overall pick.
Although they won’t be able to land one of the draft’s perceived top four players – former Kansas Jayhawks’ teammate, center Joel Embiid and forward Andrew Wiggins, former Duke Blue Devils’ forward Jabari Parker or Australian point guard Dante Exum, they should be able to land a talented player.
According to Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com, the Lakers will be working out former Oklahoma State Cowboys’ point guard Marcus Smart (who, along with former Duke Blue Devils’ forward Rodney Hood, is working out for the Orlando Magic on Monday) and former Indiana Hoosiers’ big man Noah Vonleh.
Smart may not be a pure point guard, but he is talented player and should continue to improve at the position. He could likely step in and start immediately for the Lakers. Smart averaged 18.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game for the Cowboys last season.
Vonleh, who measured in at 6’9.5 and 247 pounds with a wingspan of 7’4.5, put up 11.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game for the Hoosiers last season.