2015 NBA Draft Combine Prospects the Los Angeles Lakers Must Watch Most Closely

The NBA Draft Combine gives team executives a chance to see most of the upcoming draft's prospects go through workouts, drills and scrimmages all in the same place at the same time. It will be a key factor for the the Los Angeles Lakers in narrowing down their options heading into the draft.

Projected lottery picks will compete with borderline draftable players, while mid-major stars test their skills against power conference talent.

And, perhaps most interesting of all, the combine will provide the final official measurements for these players in terms of anthropometric stats and athletic testing.

The top three prospects on ESPN.com's Chad Ford's Big Board are not in attendance in Chicago, but there are still some big names whom the Lakers will look at closely, keeping their likely top-five pick in mind.

Los Angeles also has a selection at the bottom of Round 1, so the team will keep tabs on several players further down the charts, as well.

Here are five guys L.A.'s representatives will be glued to at the combine.

D'Angelo Russell

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As the No. 4 prospect on Ford's Big Board, D'Angelo Russell is the headliner at the combine. As with most lottery picks, he will not participate in 5-on-5 scrimmages, but he will be tested and measured out.

The measurements are encouraging. He stands 6'5" in shoes with a better than average 8'6" standing reach and an impressive wingspan of just under 6'10". Improving his strength will likely be a priority—especially if he spends a lot of time at the 2—after weighing in at a lean 193.4 pounds.

If you slot him as a point guard, he has fantastic size, and he measures up to most 2-guards, as well. With these measurements, the Lakers can feel confident playing Russell next to Jordan Clarkson, knowing both have the size and length to match up with either opposing guard. Cross-matches in transition and off-ball switching won't be a huge problem.

Russell's athletic testing has yet to be published. The biggest question surrounding Russell entering the draft was his possible lack of athleticism. Should he test well enough to dispel that notion, he could surpass Emmanuel Mudiay on more boards as the top guard in the draft.

Justise Winslow

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Nobody's stock has risen higher than Justise Winslow's stock during the past two months. A stellar NCAA tournament run has Winslow knocking on the door of the top five.

A team like the Lakers may consider him that high. He comes in with a reputation of having a high motor and being a lockdown defender who knows how to fit in around star talent.

Los Angeles, with an offensively potent backcourt of Kobe Bryant and Jordan Clarkson, may want to slide in a guy of Winslow's skill set at the 3 and develop him along the lines of a Kawhi Leonard.

Winslow's measurements may put somewhat of a damper on that, though.

Among potential lottery-pick wings, Winslow measured out the poorest, standing at 6'6.5" in shoes with a 6'10.25" wingspan. That's below average for a small forward and very small for the 4 position, where he excelled in college and had NBA execs dreaming of small-ball lineups with Winslow as the nominal power forward.

At 221.8 pounds with just 5.3 percent body fat, he has an NBA physique already. We're still waiting on his athletic metrics, but proving he can shoot the rock in workouts will be his key to keeping his stock sky high.

Willie Cauley-Stein

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Adding size in the middle and a capable defensive anchor is among the Lakers' top priorities. That's why they'll keep a close eye on Willie Cauley-Stein, especially if they land in the Nos. 4 and 5 range, and Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor are already off the board.

Cauley-Stein may be the best defensive big man in the whole draft. Nothing in Willie Trill's measurements dissuade that notion.

Cauley-Stein was one of just three players standing at 7 feet or taller in shoes. More importantly, his 9'3" standing reach and 7'3" wingspan were among the most impressive at the combine, as well.

Interior defenders need to stand tall near the rim to maintain their verticality without fouling as they contest shots. A reach like Cauley-Stein's suggest he will be able to affect shots at the rim.

The biggest concern over his game at the next level is what he can contribute on the offensive end. His athletic numbers are on hold still, but if he has the explosiveness to clean up around the rim in the mold of a DeAndre Jordan or Tyson Chandler, he will fit in any system.

Justin Anderson

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The Lakers may consider adding a wing with their late first-rounder. The Virginia Cavaliers' Justin Anderson, who sits at No. 27 on Ford's Big Board, is a potential candidate there.

He's always had the body and athleticism to be an NBA player, and the combine only confirmed that. At just over 6'6" in shoes and 230.6 pounds (with just 5 percent body fat), Anderson boasts a huge wingspan that extends almost seven feet.

He also tested off the charts athletically. He had the highest standing vertical (38 inches) and second-highest maximum vertical (43 inches). His shuttle run time was tied for fourth at the entire combine and the quickest among forwards.

With that kind of length, leaping ability and agility, Anderson has the tools to be a dynamite perimeter defender in the pros.

Before an injury derailed his season, Anderson was wowing people around the nation with a much-improved three-point stroke. Now that he has proved his top-tier athleticism, his stock will rise and fall on the back of his jumper.

The shooting numbers are still rolling in, but Anderson has knocked down mid-range shots at a high clip thus far.

Robert Upshaw

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Another player the Lakers will watch closely will be Robert Upshaw, formerly of the Washington Huskies.

Upshaw's measurements were outstanding. He was the only 7-footer at the combine not named Cauley-Stein or Frank Kaminsky and led the entire class in hand size (10" by 11"), reach (9'5") and wingspan (7'5.5").

If the Lakers go guard or wing with their first selection, they could look to Upshaw to give them their defensive anchor at the bottom of the first round.

He led the nation in shot blocking before getting dismissed from the team. He also was dismissed by the Fresno State Bulldogs prior to that, so maturity is a huge issue with the young center. 

If Upshaw shows well in interviews and can convince a team like the Lakers that his head is in the right place, he could be well worth the first-round gamble.