As Dedric Lawson’s pre-draft workout tour picks up steam following this past week’s excursion to the NBA Draft Combine, a trip to the southeast this week provided Lawson with a University of Kansas reunion.
A day after Lawson, as well as Jayhawks Quentin Grimes and Silvio De Sousa, worked out for the Bulls in Chicago on Monday, Lawson was in Charlotte, N.C., the current home of his former KU roommate, Devonte’ Graham.
During a post-workout interview, Lawson said a year ago around this time he talked to Graham on quite a few occasions just to see how life on the pre-draft circuit was going for the point guard.
“He always said, ‘Man, I’m working. It’s a lot of workouts, it’s a lot of grinding,'” Lawson recalled.
Lawson said he and Graham were able to reconnect before the Hornets workout at the team’s practice facility. It was there that Graham reminded Lawson he worked out for about 15 franchises before becoming a second-round draft pick of Charlotte in 2018.
According to the KU forward who is hoping to follow in his one-time roommate’s footsteps as a draftee, Graham’s advice for the whole process was, “Just do you.”
“That’s something that got him to the point he’s at,” Lawson said. “We’ve been through tough times at Kansas in practices and things like that. So he definitely knows what I’m capable of and he knows I’m ready for the moment.”
Lawson described his session with the Hornets as both “fun” and competitive. The workout also featured Iowa State’s Marial Shayok, Seton Hall’s Myles Powell and Georgetown’s Jessie Govan, among others.
After competing against other draft hopefuls, and trying to turn that work into a job in the NBA, Lawson described what he thought he was able to showcase in front of Hornets coaches and decision makers.
“I was able to show that I can make the NBA 3, make plays for others and play defense on smaller guys, as well,” Lawson related. “So I think it was an overall pretty good day.”
Lawson, who measured out at the combine as 6-foot-8.5 in shoes and 233 pounds, led the Big 12 in scoring (19.4 points per game) and rebounding (10.3 boards a game) during his debut season with the Jayhawks this past year.
He said he interviewed with some members of the Hornets’ front office at the combine, as well, and called it a “blessing” to be in Charlotte for the workout.
“(Graham) always tells me how great the city is and stuff like that,” Lawson shared, “so I’m glad to be here.”
In a mock draft from Michael Scotto of The Athletic, Lawson projects as the 57th pick, which currently belongs to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Hornets possess two second-round picks in the June 20 draft: No. 36 and No. 52 overall.
A longterm reunion for Jayhawks Lawson and Graham in the Queen City, Lawson said, would be great.
“I never got the chance to play with him on the court,” Lawson said of redshirting during Graham’s senior season in Lawrence. “I loved playing with him at practice. He’s a great human being to be around, a great personality, high IQ for the game. And I think he’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever been around, even though I didn’t even play with him.”
