When the Lakers landed the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft, it seemed like all but a formality that they would select UCLA's Lonzo Ball.
But with the draft just weeks away, GM Magic Johnson and the Lakers may be souring on Ball, according to The Huffington Post's Jordan Schultz.
And, you guessed it, it may be LaVar's fault.
Per source, the #Lakers would pass on Lonzo Ball if #nbadraft was today. Team isn't convinced he's a star and remains concerned about LaVar.— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 3, 2017
LaVar, Lonzo's outspoken father and middling shoe salesman, has been adamant about his son's interest in playing for the Lakers.
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"All I said was that my boy is going to play for the Lakers," LaVar Ball told ESPN's Jeff Goodman in February. "I'm going to speak it into existence. I want him to be a Laker, but I wasn't saying he's only going to play for the Lakers."
After passing on a workout with the Celtics, who own the top pick in the draft, Lonzo will have a workout with the Lakers on June 7, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
Per @ramonashelburne, Lonzo Ball will work out with the #lakers on June 7. Needless to say, both workout and interview process must be gr8.— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 3, 2017
Off the court distractions aside, the Lakers are not sold on Lonzo's game on the court, according to Schultz.
Per source, re Lonzo Ball: "It's not even close right now. Ball won't be a Laker unless they really start 2 buy into him as a star." #lakers— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 3, 2017
If the Lakers pass on Ball, the Sixers would be on the clock at No. 3 with a big decision to make.
