2017 NBA Draft: Los Angeles Lakers cannot risk missing out on Lonzo Ball

The Los Angeles Lakers hold the second pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. One player that they absolutely cannot miss out on is UCLA’s Lonzo Ball. Here’s why.

This is a no brainer. Or is it? Personally, I am a huge fan of Lonzo Ball’s game. He’s incredibly skilled and very fun to watch. I, along with many basketball fans, think the Lakers should take him with the #2 overall pick.

There are, however, those who do not want anything to do with him or his father. These fans will cite everything and anything from the archive of LaVar Ball’s media outings and will be sure to mention Magic Johnson supposedly falling in love with Markelle Fultz after his workout.

I can see why fans are torn, but would this even be up for debate if his dad didn’t cause so much of a distraction? Probably. Ball has weaknesses that concern scouts at the next level. His shooting stroke is funky, he can be exposed defensively at times, and he isn’t as quick as some other point guards in the draft. Despite these weaknesses, it seems like there is overwhelming support for Ball to head to L.A.

Still, there are those that think the Lakers shouldn’t touch him with a 10-foot pole. But I ask you, how much of Lavar’s noise will matter when Lonzo touches the floor for the first time? If he plays well, it shouldn’t matter at all.

Despite this, there are those that think the Lakers should pass on him in favor of someone else. If this is the case, who should the Lakers take instead? There are several names being floated around, but De’Aaron Fox is the one that is gaining more and more momentum as we approach the draft.

Fox is a fantastic player, and has already shown he can outplay Ball, as he did in their NCAA tournament matchup. Fox will surely make one team very happy, but it won’t be the Lakers.

Ball is the guy to pick here. He is the kind of player that can make a team so much better offensively without needing to score. He sets his teammates up for success and could be one of their best players right from the jump. The Lakers are young and they need a leader, someone who will make everyone else better. Lonzo is that guy.

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Right now, the Lakers are lacking the two things that have characterized their franchise for the longest time: winning and star play. Lonzo Ball is a proven winner and star, filling both categories. He is the prototypical Los Angeles franchise-changing player.

The clear pick here is Lonzo Ball. Fans may overthink it, but the Lakers won’t.