With D'Angelo Russell being shipped out to Brooklyn, the path is seemingly paved for the Lakers to take UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball with the No. 2 overall pick in Thursday's NBA Draft.
In an interview with ESPN on Wednesday in which he was asked to assume he will in fact become a Laker this week, Lonzo was given a chance to put his salesmanship to work in recruiting LeBron James -- whose interest in moving to L.A. has been reportedly growing since the Finals ended earlier this month.
Ball kept it short and sweet and to the point.
"Hey man, LeBron, I like to win and I know you like to win. I think our games could help each other out a lot. Anytime you want the ball, just let me know and it's going to be there."
Ball, who averaged an NCAA-leading 7.6 assists as a freshman at UCLA last season, knows a thing or two about distributing the ball. He quarterbacked the uber-efficient Bruins offense to a 31-5 record and an appearance in the Sweet 16. But despite the perception that Ball is likely to become a Laker, he says that's no sure thing. And if a decision on the Lakers front has been made, he doesn't know about it.
"You know, the Lakers have a plan," Ball said Wednesday in reaction to the reported trade of Russell to the Nets. "So whatever that is, we will see whatever that is in the future."
So maybe it's a little early to start recruiting LeBron James to a team he's no lock to join. But if all goes according to plan and he becomes a Laker, that sales pitch could be a very real thing if and when LeBron becomes a free agent next summer.
