As the Los Angeles Lakers prepare for the upcoming NBA Draft, rumors are flying about just who they might select with the second overall pick. However, they are just beginning to workout the prospective top picks, so a lot needs to be done before they come to any decisions.
Tonight, they will sit down for dinner with UCLA guard Lonzo Ball, who is considered the favorite to be selected with the second overall pick.
Whenever Lonzo is discussed, the conversation inevitably turns to his father, the outspoken LaVar Ball. Some have speculated that LaVar could hurt his son’s draft stock, though the Lakers have publicly disputed this sentiment. In an interview on “The Jim Rome Show“, Los Angeles coach Luke Walton said that LaVar would be welcome to join them for dinner, but not the workout they have planned for tomorrow:
Jim Rome: So Luke, when you workout Lonzo and then you sit down and have dinner with him, is pops LaVar expected to attend as well?
Luke Walton: Not to my understanding. If he is nobody has told me. I don’t plan on him being here…
JR: And if he chooses to come…would you welcome him at that dinner?
LW: Absolutely. If he wanted to come to the dinner. I think the workout is something we will keep the doors closed on. I think he would definitely make the dinner more entertaining and he’s definitely welcome to join us for that.
Walton went on to state that he would have no concerns about bringing in a player with an opinionated parent like LaVar Ball. He mentioned that he has an outspoken father himself in Bill Walton, so it doesn’t bother him.
Lonzo appears to still be the favorite for the Lakers to select on June 22nd, but De’Aaron Fox and Josh Jackson will also make a strong case for themselves. The good news is that it that they are seemingly determined to select the best player for them regardless of the personalities of those around them.