Lakers considering trading down?

[saltlover]

Saw this tweet from Woj a couple hours ago:

Adrian Wojnarowski
Adrian Wojnarowski – Verified account ‏@WojVerticalNBA

Marquette forward Henry Ellenson has a workout with the Lakers on Saturday, league sources say.
11:44 AM - 3 Jun 2016

The Lakers have picks at #2 and #32.  I understand due diligence and all, but Henry Ellenson cannot reasonably be under consideration for the second pick.  I checked 9 mock drafts from reputable sites, and his range was 9-15, with 9th being most common, followed by 13.  He's just not a realistic option at #2.

At the same time, he obviously isn't a realistic option for #32.  There are a lot players the Lakers could reasonably select there -- upwards of 30.  Henry Ellenson isn't one of them.  It's a waste of time to work him out for #32.  Likewise, there are many teams with picks Ellenson's draft range -- it seems a waste of his time to go work out for the Lakers.  Furthermore, every time he works out is one more chance for an injury, so in addition to time, this makes no sense.

So there are two possibilities:

Firstly, the Lakers are strongly considering moving a player for a pick in the second half of the lottery.  This seems like a curious possibility, as they only have two players who would seem to have such value -- Russell and Randle.  Perhaps they're moving on from one, and a late lottery pick is what they'd receive.

Secondly, the Lakers are considering trading down from #2 in order to pick up an additional 1st.  Phoenix has #4 and #13 -- that second pick is right in Ellenson's range.  Boston of course has #3 and #16 -- #16 might be a little low for Ellenson, but moving from up from #16 a couple of spots wouldn't be too difficult.

Anyway, there's probably nothing that will come from this, but I just find it very interesting Ellenson and his agent would take the time to go out there unless the Lakers strongly hinted they'd have a pick in his range.  Unless his agent is dumb and really thinks that Ellenson can go #2.

[mmmmm]

I wouldn't read too much into it.

Danny has, in the past, very often worked out lots of players who were not within a country mile of any of his picks.

They often do this simply to build up their dossier of info on players.

Or they might, indeed, make a trade.  Who knows?

[BitterJim]

I think it's more likely that they trade the pick/younguns for an established player and pick up a mid-late lottery pick in the process.  I can't see them moving down a pick or two unless they REALLY like bender

[Csfan1984]

If they can get 4 and 6 from Phx that is the kind of deal they should look for. (I am assuming Bledsoe, 13 and Lauer get dealt for 6 in this scenario.)

[Ilikesports17]

Jimmy Butler and the Bulls are picking 14th.

Could be a part of Butler discusions.

[steve]

Possibly. Would 4 and 13 be equal to 2? Phoenix wants Ingram or Bender?

[SHAQATTACK]

I hope the Lakers lock their doors .....dry up and blow away ....for all I care

[saltlover]

I wouldn't read too much into it.

Danny has, in the past, very often worked out lots of players who were not within a country mile of any of his picks.

They often do this simply to build up their dossier of info on players.

Or they might, indeed, make a trade.  Who knows?

Reading into things is what the Internet is about, isn't it??

Anyway, while I will concede there is some rationale for the Lakers wanting to work out as many players as possible, there is little rationale for Ellenson working out for the Lakers unless they've somehow convinced his agent it's worth his while.  Working out has the negative aspect of possible injury, as well as taking him away from drills either working on his skills or conditioning (whichever teams have indicated is his biggest weakness).  There needs to be upside -- getting selected at second can't be it.

Ainge doesn't normally get to work out players who are way outside of his draft range, unless they're guys hoping to be picked in the second round or signed after being undrafted.  I'm sure he asks for workouts from virtually everyone, but not everyone says yes.

While it's unlikely that a move is actually made, because most deals don't happen, I think this workout means there's a little more smoke than usual for the Lakers doing something on or before draft night.  It just doesn't make sense from Ellenson's perspective unless his agent has been told something.

[loco_91]

Teams try to get as much info as possible. You never know what trades will become available. You also want to bring in quality prospects for other guys to compete against in workouts - see you your prospective 2nd round picks stack up against some lottery talent.

[saltlover]

Teams try to get as much info as possible. You never know what trades will become available. You also want to bring in quality prospects for other guys to compete against in workouts - see you your prospective 2nd round picks stack up against some lottery talent.

No good agent of lottery talent lets their player go against possible second-rounders.  Lottery workouts are almost always 1-on-0 drills, maybe 1-on-1 vs a current player.

[droopdog7]

Overthinking as usual.  This is nothing more than due diligence.

[86MaxwellSmart]

I hope the Lakers lock their doors .....dry up and blow away ....for all I care

I witcha on this.