LaVar Ball Won’t Hurt Magic Johnson’s Interest In The Lakers Drafting Lonzo

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Magic Johnson says LaVar Ball isn’t hurting his son’s chances at the first overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft. The Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations was interviewed by ESPN’s Jeff Goodman at the NBA combine in Chicago on Friday and said LaVar’s bluster and big shoe ambitions don’t effect NBA teams looking to draft his son.

Goodman asked Johnson on camera about the effect Ball has on those interested in picking his son. The answer: “none at all.”

I think what you’re drafting is the son and not the father. I think that you also are gauging and evaluating his son on his abilities and what he can do. Not only on the basketball court but what he can do for your team and how he can enhance and make the team better.

This is some interesting language from Magic when you consider how a player like Ball can “enhance” a team in ways that extend off the court. Rumors are swirling that the Lakers are enamored with Ball’s star potential, which is something LaVar Ball is hoping to grow to his advantage with Big Baller Brand.

That means, in essence, that all of Ball’s talk about his son selling shoes better than Jordan is creating the buzz that makes Ball so dang draftable to the Lakers.

Still, Magic was coy about the team’s interest in drafting Ball.

If we’re fortunate to keep our pick, wherever that is, then you take a look at him just like any team who would be drafting in the top four or five would take a look at him and the other players who are there.

Phoenix Suns general manager Ryan McDonough sided with Johnson’s opinion as well, saying “we evaluate the player, first and foremost.”

Every player comes from a different family situation. It seems like LaVar has been extremely involved in Lonzo’s career, and obviously he’s a polarizing guy, but on the court, in terms of development, it seems like it’s helped Lonzo.

As Lonzo Ball enters the NBA there will be more talk about the role his father plays in his life. As players like Kyrie Irving and Blake Griffin wonder how the elder Ball impacts his son, teams hope what he brings them on the court will be well worth any headaches LaVar Ball might give them off it.

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