Lakers work out two NBA Draft prospects primed to be steals

Although the attention of most Los Angeles Lakers fans is (rightfully) on what the team will do during free agency and potentially via trades this offseason, they could be in prime position to make some noise in the 2023 NBA Draft as well.

The Lakers hold the No. 17 pick in the first round of the draft, which will take place on Thursday, June 22. That pick will be the headliner, but their selection at No. 47 in the second round could provide some interesting value as well if they opt to keep it.

As ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported, the Lakers worked out a draft group on Friday featuring six players:

• Nadir Hifi - France
• Jalen Wilson - Kansas
• Morris Udeze - New Mexico
• Cam Shelton - LMU
• Terquavion Smith - NC State
• Oscar Tshiebwe - Kentucky

While there's no shortage of talent and upside in that group, two names specifically jump out as potential second-round steals for the Lakers.

Intriguing fit for Lakers and former Kentucky star Oscar Tshiebwe

The second round of the NBA draft can be a bit of whirlwind. Teams are just as likely to pull a shocker and draft a player who'll need multiple seasons to develop as they are to select a well-known name from a big school where they posted strong collegiate numbers. But in terms of raw talent and even evaluating based on upside, Tshiebwe is a name worth watching.

Although the Lakers are unlikely to use any player drafted in the second round right out of the gate, Tshiebwe could be an interesting second-unit option sooner than later. The former West Virginia Mountaineer transferred to Kentucky for his final two seasons and posted averages of 16.9 points, 14.4 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks in 66 games.

The consistency Tshiebwe showed on the offensive end was noteworthy, as he shot 58.4 percent from the field. The Lakers could use second-unit scoring behind Anthony Davis, even if it's not immediately this season, and selecting Tshiebwe is a low-risk potential high-upside spot.

Terquavion Smith is an explosive option for Lakers

While former North Carolina State guard Terquavion Smith isn't quite as nationally known as Tshiebwe, the 6-foot-4 guard is explosive and has the potential put points on the board in a hurry. He also improved as a passer from his first season with the Wolfpack to his second in 2022-23, nearly doubling his assist average from 2.1 to 4.1.

Smith averaged 16.3 points and 17.9 points over his two seasons, but his shooting percentage from the floor is an area marked as an obvious need for improvement. Smith shot just 38.8 percent from the field but did shoot 35.2 percent from beyond the arc. One asterisk on that is the fact Smith essentially had a green light at all times for the Wolfpack, so if he can improve his shot selection at the next level, he could be an under-the-radar impact player for a second unit.

The Lakers' need for some explosive plays off the bench can't be understated. It's a reason why Russell Westbrook coming off the bench was so intriguing for the Lakers and showed legitimate signs of promise. Smith is unlikely to be a plug-and-play option, but his upside and potential to provide a spark could make for an interesting addition to the Lakers.