2017 NBA Draft: Lottery Point Guards the Lakers can Draft Instead of Lonzo Ball
By Jason Reed
The popular consensus heading into the 2017 NBA Draft is that Lonzo Ball will be staying home in LA. However, what other lottery point guards should the Lakers consider?
Chino Hills native Lonzo Ball is the most polarizing player heading into the 2017 NBA Draft. While the six-foot-six point guard is not necessarily the best prospect in any key category, he remains to be the best playmaker in this draft. With the natural ability to get his team involved running the point, Ball also can nail down shots and reel in rebounds at a high level.
This playmaking ability, alongside the fact that he is a Southern California kid, has naturally tied Ball’s name with the Los Angeles Lakers. His father, Lavar, went as far as to say that his son will have the same impact that Magic Johnson had with the showtime Lakers. Lavar is doing a perfect job of hyping up his son while creating an inevitable link with his preferred destination in Staples Center.
The great thing for the Lakers is they have just under a 50/50 chance to have the opportunity to land ball. Despite the 76ers owning the Lakers pick, if the Lakers can get lucky and grab a hold of a top three selection they will retain their pick. That would put the Lakers in the perfect position to snag up Ball, something Lakers fans are already anticipating.
However, it seems to be that nobody is raising the question of what the Lakers should do if Ball is already taken. Small forward Josh Jackson may be a good option to play shooting guard, but even that is just talk.
Therefore, let’s assume the worst for the Los Angeles Lakers, assuming that Ball is either taken by the Boston Celtics or Phoenix Suns. If that does happen, what point guards could be plan B for the Lakers?