NBA Draft: Emmanuel Mudiay to work out with Lakers on Saturday

Emmanuel Mudiay (#0) goes up for a shot between (L-R) Myles Turner (#35), Tyus Jones (#21) and Cliff Alexander (#11) during 2014 McDonald's All American Game. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Emmanuel Mudiay (#0) goes up for a shot between (L-R) Myles Turner (#35), Tyus Jones (#21) and Cliff Alexander (#11) during 2014 McDonald’s All American Game. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Lakers took a significant turn with their pre-draft workouts.

After spending the past two weeks evaluating 44 prospects slated to land either late in the first round or second round, the Lakers will temporarily shift their focus elsewhere. Emmanuel Mudiay will work out with the Lakers on Saturday at their practice facility in El Segundo, one of a few prospects the Lakers would consider with their No. 2 pick.

Mudiay skipped his freshman season at Southern Methodist and played professionally in China, averaging 17.7 points on 54.5 percent shooting, six rebounds and 5.1 assists with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Plenty of NBA talent evaluators have gushed about his maturity, quickness, ball handling and playmaking. But he is also considered an unknown because of the lack of game film and opportunities to see him play in person. Mudiay also shot only 37.4 percent from 3-point range and 57.4 percent from the foul line, while playing in only 10 games before nursing a right ankle injury.

The Lakers want to schedule more workouts next week with prospects they would consider with the No. 2 pick, possibilities including Kentucky’s Karl Anthony-Towns, Duke’s Jahlil Okafor, Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell, Duke’s Justise Winslow and possibly more. But plenty of that hinges on scheduling and if each prospect’s representatives are amenable to the workouts.

Mudiay will work out individually on Saturday, making it hard to determine how he would match up with other players such as Russell. Lakers rookie forward Julius Randle also had an individual workout last summer. But the Lakers still featured two-on-two drills featuring their coaching staff, including Mark Madsen, Larry Lewis and J.J. Outlaw. All three coaches have been active in draft workouts thus far.

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