With the NBA Draft less than two weeks away, the Los Angeles Lakers will soon have to make a decision on who they will decide to take with the second overall pick. There are plenty of rumors floating around, but the favorite still seems to be UCLA guard Lonzo Ball.
Once the Lakers landed the second pick, it looked as if Ball winding up in purple and gold was a foregone conclusion. Whether or not that happens is still a question as he supposedly didn’t blow the Lakers away in his workout.
One of the positives for Ball is his fit with the current roster and in particular D’Angelo Russell. The two would seem to be an excellent fit on offense together, and in an interview with ESPN’s Jeff Goodman, Ball shared that belief:
“I think we can play pretty well. The last 20 games, he was actually doing very well. I feel he’s more of a two-guard than point guard, and I think he can compliment my game just on the fact that he can score and shoot. All he has to do is run the floor, and I’m going to give him the ball to put it in the basket.”
Whether Russell is a point guard or shooting guard is still being decided. Russell seemed to thrive in the position down the stretch of last season and Ball’s passing, and court vision would only make it better. Additionally, Ball’s shooting would also allow he and Russell to switch off playing on and off the ball.
In the end, the Lakers will have to make the final decision. They have already seen both Ball and Josh Jackson up close and will be checking out point guards Dennis Smith Jr. and De’Aaron Fox in the coming days as well. Whoever the Lakers wind up selecting will be the player they feel is the best fit for the future of this team.