Los Angeles Lakers land their dream prospect in 2017 NBA Mock Draft
By Nick Ziegler
The Lakers land their guy in Lonzo Ball with the second overall pick. It took some help from Lady Luck during the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery, but the Lakers will be happy with the result. Despite Markelle Fultz still being on the board here, the Lakers go with the hometown kid.
This is something that LaVar Ball, Lonzo’s father, has been saying would happen for a while now. They will do everything in their power to make sure that Lonzo ends up with the Lakers, as he will reportedly work out only for the Lakers and possibly the Philadelphia 76ers. Oddly missing from that list is the Celtics, who have the first overall pick.
If Ball does end up with the Lakers they are getting their point guard of for the next decade. His arrival would allow the Lakers to move D’Angelo Russell to shooting guard and keep Jordan Clarkson as the sixth man. Ball’s skill set would allow him to play alongside either Russell or Clarkson.
His basketball IQ is sky high, making him an outstanding passer and ball handler. He is a willing passer but can hurt you from deep as he has some range on his jump shot. His form isn’t pretty, but he got the job done in UCLA making 41.2 percent of his three-pointers.
The Lakers are lucky to have landed the second pick and will gladly keep Ball in Los Angeles after he played his college ball at nearby Pauley Pavilion.