
The Fit
Even if Lonzo Ball wows the Lakers in his workout on June 7th, the team still has a very tough decision to make. They already have a ball dominant guard in D’Angelo Russell who is looking to make a major leap in productivity in his third NBA season.
Drafting Ball makes Russell have to play more off ball. Something he did more towards the end of the 2016 season, although the Lakers would prefer that he stayed playing point guard, his natural position.
Not only would Ball effect the way that Russell plays, it will also effect Jordan Clarkson. Some will say that Clarkson is replaceable. That may be true. Although somebody has to be the backup guard, don’t they? Clarkson has already shown he is a more than capable backup combo guard.
Would the Lakers really draft a player with the second pick only to have him coming off the bench? Byron Scott would, I doubt the current regime would.