LOL: Lonzo Ball refuses to work out for the Celtics

Lonzo Ball wants to land with the Los Angeles Lakers, so he’s not going to work out for the team with the No.1 overall pick.

There’s immediate prestige, and possible eventual infamy, with being a first overall pick in any major sport. The Boston Celtics have the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft, due a great trade with the Brooklyn Nets, while the Los Angeles Lakers have the second pick.

Lonzo Ball and the Lakers look like match made in heaven, since he’s a hometown kid, a UCLA product and also happens to fit a need. There are strong indications he will only work out for the Lakers between now and the draft in June.

Appearing in the Toucher and Rich show on 98.5 FM in Boston Thursday morning, Celtics’ general manager Danny Ainge dropped an expected nugget regarding Ball.

Ball refusing to workout for the Celtics is not huge news, but it may push them further toward taking Washington guard Markelle Fultz first overall. LaVar Ball has said his son would only work out for the Lakers, before back-tracking some, but landing there is surely part of a broader plan surrounding the family’s “Big Baller” shoe and clothing brand.

However LaVar Ball wants to try to pull strings with his public comments, or trying to publicly inform the Celtics about what his preference is, it could hurt his son if the Lakers are seriously considering another option with the second pick.

Next: 5 teams that should take a look at Chris Bosh

All of the pre-draft buzz, and potential misdirection, will be a moot point if the Lakers do what’s expected and take Ball No. 2 overall. Refusing to work out for the Celtics is also not necessarily going to be a deterrent, since they could still draft him based strictly on what matters most-his game tape.