Los Angeles Lakers: Magic Johnson stands by Lonzo Ball selection

Former Los Angeles Lakers team president, Magic Johnson, stood by the selection of Lonzo Ball in the 2017 NBA Draft.

The Los Angeles Lakers have had an eventful offseason. The young core that they have built over the last few years was used to land superstar Anthony Davis in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans.

The only player that the Lakers kept from their draft picks the last five years is Kyle Kuzma. D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart have all moved on. Ingram, Ball and Hart were used as part of the package, along with future first-round draft picks, to land Davis.

The selection of Ball was one that garnered plenty of attention. His father, LaVar Ball, is as outspoken as anyone and made plenty of headlines leading up to and following his selection. Expectations were high for the UCLA product, as he was seen as someone that would lead the Lakers back to prominence.

Magic Johnson, who was team president at the time, really liked what Ball brought to the court. How much did Johnson like him? While touring the facility, Johnson told Ball that his jersey would one day be hanging from the rafters as well.

He selected him over an arguably more NBA ready player in Jayson Tatum and Kentucky point guard, De’Aaron Fox.

Fast forward to today, and it is fair to argue that the Lakers made the wrong selection. While Ball was used to land a dominant player in Davis, Tatum and Fox are both more highly regarded than the former Bruin.

Despite what we have seen from all three during their first two seasons, Johnson’s tone hasn’t changed. While making an appearance on ESPN’s First Take, Johnson stood by the team’s selection of Ball with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Things did not go according to plan for Johnson or Ball. While Johnson’s plan ultimately came to fruition, as he wanted to add two superstars to the roster, he was not part of the final steps.

Johnson abruptly stepped down from his position as team president hours before the Lakers’ season finale against the Portland Trail Blazers. Ball’s tenure in Los Angeles didn’t last too much longer, as he was traded to the Pelicans prior to the 2019 NBA Draft.

Ball has yet to live up to expectations in large part because of injuries. Ball has battled numerous lower-body injuries, playing only 99 out of a possible 164 games in two seasons. He has averaged 10 points, 6.4 assists, 6.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 32.4 minutes per game.

Ball will look to get his career on track in The Big Easy playing alongside Jrue Holiday, Zion Williamson and a few familiar faces from the Lakers. Johnson, meanwhile, has seemingly remained in an advisory role for the Lakers.