3. Isaac Haas
Purdue was a popular pick to win the NCAA tournament last season, partly because of their massive center Isaac Haas. However, their chances to do that dramatically decimated when he went down with an elbow fracture in the first game of the tournament.
Haas is the biggest player in this year’s draft by both height and weight. At the combine, he weighed out to be 303 pounds and was 7’2, 3/4″. That could be an asset, but could also be a weakness because traditional back to the basket centers are not as valuable as much as they used to be.
If the Lakers want to add a bruiser and a different dimension in their lineup, then Haas could be the best option in this year’s draft class. However, even with all his size, he did not do much on the boards in college. His senior year he only averaged 5.7 rebounds per game and that is subpar for someone of Haas’ stature.
The best part about Haas is definitely his offensive game in the low post. He shot an impressive 61.7 percent from the field last season and the Lakers could use an efficient low post scoring threat on the roster.
Haas should be available when the Lakers are on the clock in the second round and it could pay dividends for them if they draft him.