In what appears to be the latest decision he's made on behalf of two of his three kids, LaVar Ball has hired the same agent that represents Lakers rookie son Lonzo to also be the agent for amateur sons LiAngelo and LaMelo, according to ESPN. This move comes just days after LaVar pulled LiAngelo off of UCLA's basketball team, and also just hours after teasing the idea of both of those sons playing basketball professionally in either Europe or Asia.
LaVar's decision to hire an agent ends any chance of LaMelo (who's currently ranked No. 7 nationally in ESPN's class of 2019 high school recruiting rankings) playing college basketball. Like his two older brothers, LaMelo was originally committed to UCLA, with the plan being for him to play there for one year before entering the NBA Draft.
Now the new plan is far more unorthodox, as it calls for the bros to play together somewhere internationally before eventually declaring for the draft. "I don't care about the money," LaVar told ESPN on Thursday morning. "I want them to go somewhere where they will play them together on the court at the same time. The priority is for the boys to play on the same team."
LaVar also told ESPN that the agent, Harrison Gaines, has been working the phones to deal with overseas squads that reportedly have some interest. "I don't know the deals and who is offering what," he added. "I'm letting Harrison handle all that, but I know there are a few teams interested. I just need to get them playing again."
Finally he stated that, if things all come together, he would spend time in whatever city his two youngest kids end up in, and also that their uncles would provide some help. "There will be three people with them all the time," he said. "I'll go back and forth and probably stay out there awhile at first."
On Thursday, during a shootaround in Philadelphia, Lonzo endorsed his dad's deal by saying, "If they are over there, I wish them the best and if they do go, it will be a family decision."
Just seems like an instance of making things way harder than they have to be.
