NBA Draft Rumors: Pistons, Bulls, Lakers, Zach Edey

Pistons

The Pistons recently hosted G League Ignite forward Matas Buzelis for a private workout and there’s belief he could be their pick at No. 5, per James Edwards III of The Athletic.

As Edwards noted, Buzelis is represented by agent Michael Tellem, who just happens to be the son of Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem — a former agent himself. That could make future contract negotiations tricky, or hey, maybe incredibly easy.

Anyway, Buzelis is 6-foot-10 and a Lithuanian-American who played high school basketball in Illinois, New Hampshire and Kansas before joining the now-defunct Ignite.

Detroit needs help everywhere after another season at the bottom of the league. Others believed to be in play at No. 5 overall include Colorado wing Cody Williams, UConn center Donovan Clingan, and Tennessee wing Dalton Knecht.

This marks the first draft for new Pistons head of basketball operations Trajan Langdon.

Bulls

The Bulls have discussed the possibility of moving up from the No. 11 overall pick with their sights set on Clingan, per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.

“The problem is what do they really have to give to make that jump?” Cowley wrote. “What Clingan would give them, though, is an elite rim-protecting big that embraces physicality and doing the dirty work in the paint. Even if his offensive game comes along slowly, he is an instant presence on the defensive side of the floor.”

• Meanwhile, Knecht would be difficult to pass up should he drop to No. 11, Cowley added.

Lakers

The Lakers are among the teams that have worked out Purdue center Zach Edey ahead of the draft, per HoopsHype. Los Angeles owns the No. 17 overall pick and that is the range in which Edey is expected to be selected.

Of course, that could change between now and the actual first day of the draft on June 26. Scouts have told Hoops Wire that Edey could move up … or down. He is perhaps the draft’s biggest mystery.

Same goes for the Lakers. As we relayed here, they are said to be among the teams in the teens that are exploring the idea of trading up.

• Other notables who have worked out for the Lakers: G League Ignite small forward Ron Holland and Providen shooting guard Devin Carter. Both of those players are expected lottery picks.