Los Angeles Lakers: 5 centers to consider in 2018 NBA draft

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 16: Purdue Boilermakers center Isaac Haas (44) walks back up the court during the NCAA Division I Men's Championship First Round basketball game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Cal State Fullerton Titans on March 16, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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Los Angeles Lakers have second round of pre draft workouts

Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

5. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.

The better players that the Lakers have found late in the draft, spent multiple years with their teams in college. Larry Nance Jr., Josh Hart, and Kuzma all spent three or more seasons in college and they proved to be steals once they got into the league.

Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. only spent two seasons at Baylor, but he also played at Neosho County Community College in Chanute. Playing that many seasons in college probably makes him more mature than most of the guys entering the draft. By his senior season, he became a legitimate double-double threat on a nightly basis.

What makes him a good fit with the Lakers is that he can stretch the floor and hit an open three if he needs to. Brook Lopez made a ton of threes from the center spot last season, and Lual-Acuil Jr. could potentially replace that production if they take him in the draft.

He is also one of the best shot blockers in the entire draft and in the history of Baylor University. At the end of his college career, he ranked third all-time in blocks per game with 2.49 and had an incredible 4 games with 6 blocks or more.

The Lakers worked him out early on in the pre-draft process so he is definitely on their radar. He might be a better fit for their second-round selection if he falls that far in the draft.

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