When the NBA Draft lottery results came out, no one seemed surprised to see Los Angeles Lakers in the Top 3. They were a lock to land near the top if they didn’t win it, and that’s exactly what happened. As a result, Magic Johnson and his staff will have the chance to select the player they want, and there’s no question here: they are going with Lonzo Ball, as long as the UCLA product doesn’t go with the first overall pick.
And honestly, it seems too good to pass up. All signs indicate Ball and the Lakers are meant to be.
On one hand, we have Ball as a fit fot the Lakers on the court. D’Angelo Russell hasn’t developed as expected, and Los Angeles needs a pass-first point guard on their roster. With playmakers such as Russell, Brandon Ingram, and Julius Randle, the Lakers need someone who can distribute the ball properly. And Lonzo has the traits to become that man. He has already shown excellent vision in his stint with UCLA this past season. He needs to grow and develop, but he already is a better passer than Russell.
Ball might be a talented player, as his UCLA numbers showed last season when he averaged 14.6 points, 7.6 assists and six rebounds for the Bruins. However, he needs a place where he can play constantly and develop at his own rate. The Lakers seem like the perfect landing spot for him. And while he needs to iron out a few details of his game, Lonzo has superstar written all over him. We know the Lakers are not going to miss out on the chance to take him if he’s there when they’re on the clock.
As if the basketball reasons weren’t enough, the Lakers needs Ball as their new franchise image. While Russell and Clarkson have not been what the fans expected, Ball could become the face of the franchise. Ingram is not going to be the guy who sells jerseys because of his personality, but Ball could be that guy. After all, the Lakers have always been popular on and off the court. And Ball’s presence would immediately boost the franchise’s merchandising sales.
Last but not least, there’s the whole homegrown factor. Ball attended UCLA, so he knows what it means playing in Los Angeles. His father, LaVar Ball, actually wants Lonzo to workout only with the Lakers because his goal is to see his son in purple and gold next season. It seems the Lakers want that too, so it’s crazy to imagine them passing on him if he’s available with the second pick. The Celtics have the first pick, but it seems they will either trade it, or use it on Markelle Fultz.
You can set it in stone if you want. But it would be a total shocker if Lonzo Ball is not a Laker once the 2017-18 NBA season starts. It seems like a match made in heaven, and both parties want to get it done.