Lonzo Ball isn’t a lock to join the Los Angeles Lakers after all.
While many assume the Purple and Gold will take the electric UCLA guard at No. 2, the team, apparently, isn’t so sure. It needs to see more from Ball before committing to him, according to Basketball Insiders’ Steve Kyler:
With reports surfacing that the LA Lakers and former UCLA guard Lonzo Ball have finalized the details of a workout and face to face meeting in LA next week, there is a growing sense that unless Lonzo absolutely blows the doors off, he may not be the Lakers’ guy.
The Lakers are weeks away from needing to make their final decision, but there are many that believe the Lakers could go after both Kansas forward Josh Jackson and Kentucky guard De’Aaron Fox (who made my Mock at 2 this week) with the second overall pick. It’s become so real that Ball’s camp, which started the process saying he’d only meet with the Lakers, have expressed a willingness to meet with the Philadelphia 76ers and possibly the Sacramento Kings depending on how things go with the Lakers. Neither are expected to get a workout out of Ball, but both may get a chance for a face to face meeting.
Maybe this is noise. But, hey, maybe not.
The Lakers don’t need another guard. Ball and D’Angelo Russell might be able to work together, but they’re both kind of redundant.
Josh Jackson would be a better fit. Brandon Ingram and himself can switch off between playing the 3 and 4, instantly forming a defensive combination that can rough up some opposing offenses. It would be tough sledding in the beginning. Neither has the upper-body strength to defend every single power forward full-time. But 4s are glorified wings these days. For every freight train, Jackson and Ingram will run into a traditional stretch 4, plodding talent or small-ball power forward cut from a similar lithe physique.
Ball, make no mistake, is still on the table. He’s no doubt the favorite to still go second overall. But there is some truth to this being a tough decision. The Lakers have other options, and unless Ball makes it so they cannot reasonably take anyone else, they have to at least explore Jackson’s potential fit.
