Anthony Davis is a lock for the No. 1 spot so he won't be shooting at the combine. (Getty Images)
The NBA combine is on Thursday in Chicago. (Our own Jeff Goodman will be there, follow him on Twitter for live updates and inside information.) It's in large part a meaningless measuring activity in which the players test their physical attributes and skills. Some have real meaning, like the wingspan category, because you want to know if a guy is as long as he seems. Others have very little impact but can wind up mattering for crazy reasons (Ed Davis' shuttle time being a big example). 

But it seems there's going to be very little "actual basketball" activities done by some of the top players on Thursday. SI.com reports: 

More proof that the NBA combine is getting worse: Source says Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond, Dion Waiters, and Harrison Barnes are declining to take part in skills drills that involve running and shooting tomorrow. This list is likely to get longer, as agents try to limit the chances that their prospect works out in front of a large group and instead prioritize individual team workouts.

via Sam Amick's post on Basketball | Latest updates on Sulia.

No big shocker, the indvidual workouts are where the conversation really cements among front-office people for who they like. Davis doesn't honestly need to work out, he's going No.1 regardless. Nothing changes that. Beal can probably only hurt his case right now as he's skyrocketed up to as high as No.2 on some draft boards (including ours). Drummond, similar deal, as he's being drafted on height and potential, not skill. Barnes is kind of an interesting approach, but that's likely more to indicate that he's above the fold and showcase what he can do one-on-one. 

The combine isn't held in super-high regard, but things like this show why the NBA needs to either get tougher with the process for it or scrap it all together.