Los Angeles Lakers: Will Lonzo Ball be able to resurrect the Lakers

Rookie Lonzo Ball has given some new life to the Los Angeles Lakers, but will this new life be visible from an on the court standpoint?

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most decorated franchises in all of sports. Throughout their history, too, they have remained one of the most talked about teams because of the market they are in.

In an age driven by the media, the Lakers have somehow managed to remain in the spotlight. It is amazing to some extent given the fact the franchise is mired in a four-year playoff dry spell.

Teams that are no longer considered winners are often thrown into the gutter. Yes, while the Lakers’ tradition revolves around winning, recent years have strayed away from that completely.

However, it is no secret that a lot of the reason they continue to be talked about is that of second overall pick Lonzo Ball. Bear in mind that Ball has not played a minute in any real action yet.

Keep in mind, too, that the league has not witnessed such a highly touted prospect since LeBron James.

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At the time being, a lot of the attention on Ball stems from nothing more than hype. In Summer League, he showcased his all-around game by collecting a couple triple-doubles in the process.

As great as that is, the level of competition by no means matches up against what the NBA boasts. It simply remains difficult to imagine Lonzo’s summer magic instantly having a carryover effect.

In spite of that, President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson has great belief in the teenager’s abilities.

"“If he’s getting triple-doubles in the summer league, he is going to get triple-doubles in the regular season,” Johnson said, as quoted by ESPN. “Lonzo is special, no question about it, because he makes everyone better. He does something you can’t teach.”"

While the triple-double part of Magic’s quote may not come true in a heartbeat, the rest is impossible to disagree with.

Before Summer League even commenced, Ball’s ability to distribute the rock was not in question.

Accompanying said passing ability, the chic charisma with which some of those dimes were executed at UCLA was off the charts.

Magic’s statements thus make all the more sense. In all likelihood, the five-time world champion sees flashes of himself in the 19-year-old.

Johnson was the central force behind the Showtime Lakers in the 1980s, an era largely defined by highlight reel passes and slam dunks. The name was coined for a reason.

Even though the modern NBA has evolved into a shooter’s destination, Ball’s naturally selfless style indicates that his assist ratio should be high.

Such a style suggests something else as well. It insinuates that a new era in L.A. is unfolding before our very eyes. This era may not turn out as gloriously as the 1980s, but, indeed, as Magic said, it could be something special nevertheless.

Paolo Uggetti of The Ringer outlines his most ideal scenario for Los Angeles in the upcoming season. His thoughts, unsurprisingly enough, rely heavily upon Lonzo Ball becoming a sensation.

"With Ball, a passing Picasso, at the helm of a far more skilled roster than he brought to life at summer league, Walton will be able to run an up-and-down system built on selfless passing and constant ball movement—something the Lakers badly need after finishing in the bottom-five of the league in assist percentage. It will be erratic and maybe even dysfunctional at times, but, man, is it going to be a blast. The Lakers aren’t back, but at least they’ll be fun."

Certainly, there is no denying the latter point Uggetti makes in his article. The Lakers overall play should be a lot more fluid, especially once the group better adjusts to each other’s tendencies.

By the same token, having fun may not necessarily equate to wins from the get-go. Fun does not mean quite as much when it cannot be backed up.

Los Angeles Lakers /

Los Angeles Lakers

It is not to say that the wins will not come. Assuming more goes according to plan than was the case last year, the team’s win total should go up.

The team as a collective whole looks a lot stronger. The recent signing of center Andrew Bogut further validates that appearance and gives the roster more frontcourt depth defensively.

Appearance wise, though, no one else on the roster stands out more than Ball. Based on a report by Bill Oram of The Orange County Register, Ball’s father, LaVar, would definitely not meddle with that. In Oram’s piece, Lonzo could not help but to squeeze in that his father’s prophecy of his eldest son becoming a Laker came true.

"“He’s been saying that my whole life,” Lonzo said. “I started playing at six and he’s definitely been saying that since I remember.”"

While something akin to this sounds petty, it is partially what has led to all of this abovementioned hype. Childhood dreams (namely of this magnitude) do not always turn out perfectly. Surely enough, this one did and it very much typifies what Hollywood is all about.

Of course, Hollywood is also a fan of happy endings. Exciting exposition is one thing, yet superstars are made by living up to the billing.

Whether Lonzo Ball plays an instrumental role in carving out a happy ending for himself remains a puzzle. The Lakers will not be getting down to business quite, quite yet.

However, why not believe in Ball like his father does and like Magic does? Yes, it is extremely doubtful that the former Bruin will be the second coming of the latter individual. On the other hand, he could be something pretty amazing.

Ball’s presence has breathed life into a decaying, wilting franchise. That in itself deserves applause.

With that being said, who is to say (even if it takes some time), he cannot do the same for the purple and gold on the court?

Next: 5 Bold Predictions For Lakers 2017-18 Season

Let’s be honest for a moment. L.A. will not be even close to an elite team this season. They will be a lot more interesting, though—that is irrefutable.

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