It looks like Lonzo Ball to the Los Angeles Lakers isn't a sure thing like we thought it was. Per Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the Lakers are not likely to select the UCLA star with the No. 2 overall pick unless he "absolutely blows the doors off" with his NBA Draft workout on June 7.
Here are more details on the concerns from Ball's camp:
The Chino Hills native could be drafted behind Kansas‘ Josh Jackson and Kentucky‘s De’Aaron Fox. The concern has become so real in Ball’s camp, that after declining a workout with the Boston Celtics, they’ve become increasingly receptive to meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Sacramento Kings, depending on how the workout goes with the Lakers.I still feel like Ball will go to the Lakers. He's regarded as the second best player in the draft behind Markelle Fultz. It doesn't seem to me that the Lakers will pass on him, but I wouldn't be surprised if they went with Jackson or Fox instead.
Kyler’s colleague, Joel Brigham has him potentially dropping to No. 5 overall to the talent-starved Kings, who wouldn’t pass up on the chance for a point guard.
Another colleague, Moke Hamilton presented a different scenario, where he sees the Lakers “increasingly open-minded” to trading away Jordan Clarkson as soon as they can on draft night, in order to make room for Ball — though that doesn’t say much if he’s forced to come off the bench behind D’Angelo Russell.
Hamilton notes that despite being roughly three weeks away, the Lakers are in no rush to clear a potential logjam at the guard position.
I guess we'll have to see how Ball performs on June 7. Seeing Lavar's face on draft night if the Lakers don't draft Lonzo would be pretty priceless, though.
