Jesse Buss and the Los Angeles Lakers’ scouting department have had a recent string of successes in the latter stages of the draft, snagging Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart in the late first or second round. A trade deadline deal sent Clarkson and Nance to the Cleveland Cavaliers for expiring contracts and the chance to acquire undervalued talent once again, this time with the 25th pick.



The Lakers began their pre-draft workouts May 7 with an emphasis on defense, outside shooting and conditioning. Most of the workouts have included six participants at a time, and several of the players have reported that the 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 drills were full-court competitions. Those sessions culminated in the Lakers’ Mentality Drill, a 90-second shooting competition designed to see how well players perform under fatigue. Playing with pace is an integral part of the team’s identity, and they appear to view the draft process through that...