While it's still uncertain if the Los Angeles Lakers will keep the top-5 in this year's draft, the team's scouts and front-office team are apparently intrigued by the overwhelming talent possessed by Kentucky Wildcats big man Willie Cauley-Stein.
In an interview with Mark Medine of Los Angeles Daily News, Cauley-Stein disclosed that member of the Lakers front-office staff had a chat with him at this week's NBA Draft Combine.
Cauley-Stein, who is considered the best defensive talent in this class, is projected as a late lottery to mid first-round pick on several mock drafts, but the Lakers seem to rate him very high largely because of his incredible upside and ability to guard in almost all positions.
ESPN NBA insider Chad Ford considers the Kentucky junior a force on the defensive end, having the tools to protect the rim and create mismatch on the perimeter. Ford believes Cauley-Stein would make an instant impact on the defensive end, though there's still a lot of work on his very raw offensive game.
"He's another guy that people feel like they have a good handle on him. I think everybody knows that his appeal is size, length, athleticism and his ability to guard five positions on the court."
"He is a unique prospect. We sometimes use hyperbole to say, 'This guy can guard everyone from a point guard to a center.' I think Willie Cauley-Stein is that guy. I was in a workout with (Wisconsin star) Sam Dekker and he was talking about Cauley-Stein guarding him in the Final Four and he talked about just how incredible it was to see a guy that big come out there and be able to hang with him."
Why Are the Lakers Interested in Him?
The Lakers defense clearly needs a major boost after finishing with the 29th worst defense in the league at 105.3 points allowed per game. Ed Davis had been the most consistent rim protector for the Lakers last year with 1.2 blocks per game. Worst, the Lakers are in danger of losing him after he decided not to exercise the second year of his two-year deal.
Selecting Cauley-Stein will not only give the Lakers a consistent blocker, but a perimeter defender as well. He's in all in one package on the defensive side of the floor. However, the Lakers should not expect him to be a valuable contributor offensively because he's far from becoming a well-polished scorer on the block.