Although the Lakers are impressed with Lonzo Ball‘s passing, scoring, and leadership potential, some team observers of his workout with the team believe he came in out of shape, writes Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Daily News. Ball is still viewed as the odds-on favorite to be the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, but if the Lakers do go in another direction, conditioning concerns could play a part in that decision.
Here are a few more draft-related notes and rumors from around the NBA:
- In advance of today’s deadline, Latvian prospect Verners Kohs has withdrawn his name from the 2017 NBA draft, per agent Arturs Kalnitis (via Twitter). The 6’8″ small forward is ranked 13th by DraftExpress among 1997-born international prospects.
- The Hawks will likely be in the market for a big man when they pick at No. 19 in next week’s draft, according to Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who identifies nine players Atlanta may be targeting with that selection.
- Utah State’s Jalen Moore, who worked out for Philadelphia today, has auditions for the Celtics and Bulls coming up later this week, and has already worked out for the Bucks, Magic, and Thunder, per Jessica Camerato of CSNPhilly.com (Twitter link).
- Camerato also passes along some workout info for Clemson’s Jaron Blossomgame, tweeting that he has sessions lined up with the Hornets, Hawks, Pacers, Bucks, and Nuggets.
You mean Ball working out with his father in their backyard isn’t getting him in NBA shape? Maybe he spent too much time designing his shoes…oh that’s right he only spent 3-4 hours designing the Big Baller Brand shoes.
I hope Ball is the next Sam Bowie.
I dislike how Lavar ball acts, but to wish failure upon his son says more about your place in life than it does his son.
If his son is ok with Lavar Ball asking for a 3 billion dollar shoe deal after 1-yr of college, than he deserves failure.
Blossomgame could be a low risk high reward guy
It’s a win-win pick no matter what because of that fantastic name.
I hope for the kids sake he is good enough in the NBA. But with a dad like his eventually the kid will take on that persona of being the “best ever” even tho the world is settled on Fultz being better then Ball.
I don’t know if the world is set on that. I was never that impressed with Fultz. Obviously basketball is a team game but rarely has the top pick’s team had such dreadful results. I do think that Fultz fits in best in Boston, but I’d hardly say it’s set in stone that he’s set him self far and away from the other lotto picks
I thing Dennis Smith is a little bit better than Ball and Fultz.
And Isaac is maybe the next Gianni’s ?!?
Tatum next Melo
Jackson next George
A guy with asthma is the next Giannis? Not very likely.
This is a joke right. Smiths game is very 1 dimensional, fultz and ball are in an entire different league
.
I think the issue is that his measurables aren’t the direction the NBA is going. In a long and athletic league, he has shorter arms than his counterparts and his shot doesn’t touch Fultz’s. His decision making isn’t what Ball’s is. I don’t know that he won’t be good, it’s just that when looking at the other two, he doesn’t look as good.
Did you see the media frenzy when Lonzo
Did his workout with the Lakers. This kid
Has got that IT factor! He wins wherever he goes. I just hope the celtics don’t take him
Except against Kentucky, right?
1-1
Smith D is the best from all three
Smith has the best drive from all three
And Smith make often the right decision ..
His shot is “ok”
they like his scoring, leadership etc etc and would pass because he was out of shape? ooooooh ok. #smokescreen lol