The Los Angeles Lakers could end up in a position to draft Lonzo Ball this summer, and their new president of basketball operations insists the former UCLA star’s father will not factor into the team’s decision.
When asked about all the negative publicity LaVar Ball has attracted in recent months, Magic Johnson told ESPN’s Jeff Goodman that LaVar’s antics will have “no effect” on how the Lakers evaluate Lonzo.
“No effect at all,” Johnson said at the NBA combine. “I think what you’re drafting is the son and not the father. I think that you also are gauging and evaluating his son on his ability and what he can do not only on the basketball court but also what he can do for your team. How he can enhance and make your team better.”
The Lakers have the third-best chance to earn the top overall pick in the June draft. But if they end up outside the top three, their pick goes to the Philadelphia 76ers. The team with the second-best chance to earn the No. 1 pick, the Phoenix Suns, is also not concerned about LaVar Ball’s influence.
“Not really, no,” Suns GM Ryan McDonough said. “We evaluate the player, first and foremost. Every player comes from a different family situation. It seems like LaVar has been extremely involved in Lonzo’s career, and obviously he’s a polarizing guy, but on the court, in terms of development, it seems like it’s helped Lonzo.
“As we try to weigh in all the factors, certainly having a parent who’s very involved and cares a lot, we don’t view that as a bad thing. It’s a little bit different than certain situations, but it’s certainly that we would not disqualify Lonzo for [his father], or really factor heavily in our decision.”
Lonzo Ball is one of the best players in the 2017 NBA Draft class, so it’s not surprising teams are overlooking his dad’s outlandish remarks. Potential endorsers, on the other hand, could end up being a much different story.
