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Lakers still haven't been able to bring Towns in for workout, likely won't

Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

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Karl-Anthony Towns must be pretty confident his name will be the first one called in Thursday's NBA Draft, because thus far he's declined to even work out for the team picking No. 2.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been trying to bring the 6-foot-11 Kentucky product in for a closer look since the predraft process began, but have been rebuffed at every turn. With the draft less than a week away, they're fast losing hope in their ability to secure a workout.

From Mark Medina of the LA Daily News:

The Lakers have also become increasingly doubtful they will have a workout for Kentucky center Karl-Anthony Towns. The Lakers believe their lack of progress with those efforts stem from most NBA mock drafts predicting the Minnesota Timberwolves will select with their No. 1 pick. But the Lakers will accommodate their workout schedule should Towns and his representatives express interest in a workout.

It's true Towns is the consensus top pick, and it's possible he's heard something from the Timberwolves that suggests they won't let him fall to No. 2, but it seems odd he wouldn't have a contingency plan in case Minnesota springs for Duke big man Jahlil Okafor, as it's been suggested Wolves president Flip Saunders might prefer to do.

While the Lakers, in all likelihood, wouldn't be deterred by the lack of a workout if Towns should be on the board at No. 2, it's always possible they'll be swayed by a particularly impressive showing from another of the top prospects they have gotten an up-close look at, like D'Angelo Russell, Emmanuel Mudiay, or Kristaps Porzingis.

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