Transcript
Hey guys, what's going on? For Complex News, I'm Tamara Dhia. When the Lakers were awarded the second pick in the 2017 NBA Draft in May during the NBA Draft lottery, most people naturally assumed that they would use that pick to select Lonzo Ball during the draft at the end of June. Ball’s father LaVar was spotted wearing a purple and gold Big Baller Brand hat that night, and he was all too happy to celebrate the fact that his son Lonzo would be staying close to home and playing for one of the most storied franchises in the NBA.
But since then, there has been a lot of speculation about whether or not the Lakers are sold on the idea of drafting Ball with the second overall pick. Lonzo is slotted in the second spot on most mock drafts right now. But over the last few weeks, Lonzo has taken part in two individual workouts with the Lakers, and after both of them, reports emerged indicating that the Lakers weren’t all that impressed with what they saw.
One report said Lonzo failed to “blow the Lakers away or seal any deal” during his second workout. Another said Lonzo was “considering talking” with other teams in the days leading up to the draft, just in case the Lakers decided to pass on him.
LaVar isn’t losing any sleep when it comes to the draft rumors, though. TMZ Sports spotted him walking around with his sons in New York City on Monday afternoon, as his family prepares to have their lives changed this week. And when he was asked if he’s worried about the Lakers passing on Lonzo, he didn’t hesitate to say that he’s still guaranteeing the team will take him.
“Everybody knows he’s going to be a Laker.”
The good news for LaVar and Lonzo is that it doesn’t appear as though any other players have stepped up and unseated Lonzo as the Lakers’ best option. Former Kansas guard Josh Jackson was seen as an option for the team, but according to reports, he had a tough time during his workout with the Lakers as well. One report indicated it “did not go well at all,” which means Lonzo could very well still be the Lakers’ target in the draft.
The draft is only two days away, so we will find out whether or not the Lakers decide to go with Lonzo soon. But there is still so much that can happen between now and then. Outside of considering their other options, there has also been some talk about the Lakers potentially trading the No. 2 pick to the Pacers as part of a package for Paul George. And if that were to happen, Lonzo would definitely end up playing in a city other than Los Angeles during his rookie season.
For now, all we can do now is wait to see what happens. The only thing we know for certain is that, regardless of where Lonzo ends up getting drafted, LaVar is going to have something to say about it. That’s the news for now, but for all the latest news on LaVar and Lonzo Ball, subscribe to Complex News on YouTube. For Complex News, I’m Tamara Dhia.
