Report: Lakers may pass on Lonzo Ball even if they keep their lottery pick

Could the Los Angeles Lakers pass on Lonzo Ball? If they keep their lottery pick, it could be an interesting development.

Lakers fans everywhere are praying they don’t get leapfrogged in the 2017 NBA Draft lottery. Los Angeles only has a 46.9 percent chance to retain their draft pick, having the third best odds to land a top 3 pick. If the Lakers do get jumped, their draft pick goes to Philadelphia.

Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report has reported that even if the Lakers do keep their pick, they may go in a different direction than everyone is anticipating. UCLA guard Lonzo Ball has set his sights on his hometown Lakers but the team may not be so enthused with the Big Baller.

"“Either the Lakers will start locking in on UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball, Washington point guard Markelle Fultz, Kansas forward Josh Jackson and under-the-radar Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox—the four players they are most considering in the top three, according to league sources…or they won’t.”"

The thoughts of landing a premier prospect in the draft may be a moot point for Lakers fans to consider. Los Angeles will learn their fate Tuesday at the Lottery where they have less than a 50 percent chance to keep their coveted selection. The 2012 Steve Nash sign-and-trade may finally come back to haunt the Purple and Gold.

While Lonzo’s father, LaVar Ball has been boisterous in the media lately, it doesn’t appear the Lakers are as infatuated with his son as he tends to think. The fact of the matter is this is a very deep draft. As we inch closer to the draft, Lonzo has opted not to participate at the 2017 NBA Draft combine. It’s entirely possible the athletic upside to De’Aaron Fox and Justin Jackson will be too good to pass on.

"“With the third-worst record in the NBA last season, the Lakers are believed to be open-minded to the possibility that Jackson or Fox—potentially with greater upside thanks to a combination elite athleticism and ferocious competitiveness—could be an even better choice than one of the current consensus top two: Ball or Fultz.As neat of a match as it would seem to be for high-profile local product Ball to land with the Lakers, as he and his father are publicly pining to happen, the Lakers most definitely have not put Ball on some pedestal as their potential savior, according to sources. He is a strong contender to be at the top of their list after all the workouts are done (assuming they keep their pick), and Lonzo’s court vision impresses them a lot more than LaVar’s presence scares them. But Fultz also is a tantalizing option, as is the upside Jackson and Fox each offer.”"

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The Lakers have sort of positioned themselves for the eventual addition of Lonzo Ball. Moving D’Angelo Russell to the off-guard late in the season seemed to pave the way for Lonzo to start at point for LA. Soon enough we will find out if Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka are worthy enough to become Big Ballers. Then again passing on Ball in the draft could be the ultimate blessing in disguise.