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Lakers Rumors: Phil Jackson wanted Lonzo Ball on New York Knicks

By Kenneth Teape

GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: Lonzo Ball of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a portrati during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: Lonzo Ball of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a portrati during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers Rumors: Former Lakers head coach Phil Jackson had his eyes set on Lonzo Ball as President of the New York Knicks prior to the 2017 NBA Draft.

Los Angeles Lakers rumors have been relatively quiet in recent days. With their roster almost full for training camp, there isn’t much more player movement that the Lakers will be involved in. They will more than likely wait until training camp to see if one of the younger players perform well to use their final two-way contract.

Most of the recent rumors have involved when they will be playing their games. The NBA has not yet released their full regular season schedule for 2017-18, but there have been a few games leaked.

We know that the Lakers will be playing on opening night at the Staples Center against the Los Angeles Clippers. We also know that Los Angeles will be hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of the Christmas Day festivities.

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Part of the reason the Lakers will be playing on Christmas Day is that they are a marquee franchise. The Lakers are one of the most recognizable teams in the NBA and have a huge following. Another reason is that they have one of the most polarizing rookies in recent history in Lonzo Ball.

Ball is the most popular rookie in recent history, and by a large margin. He is highly regarded by many outlets, as he has been projected to win the Rookie of the Year award, is already ranked as a top-20 point guard in the NBA, and his teammates love him. That is the type of player the NBA wants to be front and center during prime time games, and him being a part of the Lakers makes him even that much bigger of a deal.

However, the Lakers should count their stars that Ball landed in their laps. The Lakers overcame the odds during the NBA Draft Lottery to land the No. 2 overall pick and the chance to take Ball out of UCLA. Los Angeles was happy that night, but they should be even happier that a former Laker didn’t have his way.

According to Peter Vecsey, Phil Jackson was trying hard to acquire the No. 1 pick from the Boston Celtics to select Lonzo Ball when he was team President of the New York Knicks. Vecsey talked about it on the HoopsHype podcast with Alex Kennedy.

"“Phil was angling for to try to trade Porzingis for the the No. 1 pick to Boston, and he would have taken Ball. That’s who he was after. “In the end, people might really like that.”"

Prior to the 2017 NBA Draft, Jackson made Knicks’ potential franchise cornerstone, Kristaps Porzingis, available in trade. Jackson did not like that Porzingis skipped his exit meeting at the end of the 2016-17 regular season. As a result, teams began calling about his availability.

Nothing seemed to really come close to happening, as the Knicks asking price for Porzingis was astronomical, and rightfully so. The Phoenix Suns were another team the Knicks talked to, but nothing came of that either as the Knicks held onto Porzingis and selected Frank Ntilikina with the eighth overall pick.

Next: 4 Reasons Drafting Lonzo Ball Was Right move

The Lakers have got to be happy that Jackson was unable to swing a trade with the Celtics. Instead, the Celtics made a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, who used the No. 1 overall pick on Washington point guard Markelle Fultz, leaving Ball to the Lakers.

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