April 2017 Los Angeles Lakers Wiretap

Lonzo Ball To Hold Solo Workout With Lakers On June 7th

May 31, 2017 2:06 AM

Lonzo Ball will work out for the Los Angeles Lakers on June 7th. The Lakers are the only team Ball is scheduled to work out for though he could add one or two meetings with teams near the top of the draft.

Ball has emerged as the frontrunner to be selected by the Lakers at No. 2. 

Ball will meet with the front office and coaches while also participating in an individual workout. Ball never considered a one-on-one workout against another prospect.

The Lakers plan to work out other top prospects over the next two weeks, including Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox and N.C. State’s Dennis Smith.

Shams Charania/The Vertical

Tags: Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft Workouts

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RealGM Radio: NBA Draft Lottery Winners

May 29, 2017 11:04 AM

Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux) previews the NBA Draft and offseason of the three winners of the draft lottery.

He discusses the Celtics with Jared Weiss of CLNS Media and CelticsBlog (@JaredWeissNBA); the Lakers with Darius Soriano of Forum Blue and Gold (@forumbluegold – 40:00); and the Sixers with Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA – 1:18:04).

Sponsored by Zip Recruiter (http://www.ziprecruiter.com/sportsfan)

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Tags: Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, Josh Jackson, Jonathan Isaac, Dennis Smith, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, RealGM Radio

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David Stern Thought Lakers Might Agree Upon New Chris Paul Trade After Veto

May 28, 2017 12:59 AM

David Stern further expounded on his controversial decision to veto a trade in 2011 for "basketball reasons" that would have seen the New Orleans Pelicans trade Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Pelicans and Lakers agreed upon a three-way trade with the Houston Rockets involving Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom.

"(My decision) was only based on what was good for New Orleans, or what was not good for New Orleans," said David Stern. "It had nothing to do with the Lakers at all. And in fact, in the course of the weekend, we thought we could re-do the deal. We really thought that Houston would be ready to part with Kyle Lowry; and we had a trade lined up for Odom that would have gotten us a good first round draft pick. Not we, but my basketball folks. But Mitch Kupchak at the time panicked, and moved Odom to Dallas. So the piece wasn’t even there for us to play with at the time. So that was it — just about what was good for the then New Orleans Hornets."

New Orleans soon thereafter traded Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Harrison Faigen/Silver Screen & Roll

Tags: Chris Paul, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Lakers To Hire Miles Simon As Assistant Coach

May 26, 2017 10:35 AM

The Los Angeles Lakers will hire Miles Simon as an assistant coach.

Simon will replace Theo Robertson.

Like Luke Walton, Simon played collegiately at Arizona.

Simon was an assistant coach for Arizona for several seasons and he's since coached AAU and USA Basketball.

Tania Ganguli/Los Angeles Times

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Magic Johnson Considers Brandon Ingram Untouchable For Lakers

May 25, 2017 12:24 PM

Out of the core of young players Magic Johnson is inheriting with the Los Angeles Lakers, it appears as though Brandon Ingram is the one he's most attached to.

Ingram was the second overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft out of Duke.

"Brandon (Ingram) is a guy we probably won't think about moving, ever," said Johnson when asked about any untouchables on the roster.

With the Lakers widely expected to draft Lonzo Ball, the future of D'Angelo Russell with the franchise remains uncertain.

ESPN Los Angeles (via Serena Winters/Lakers Nation)

Tags: Brandon Ingram, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Danny Ainge Confirms Lonzo Ball Won't Work Out For Celtics

May 25, 2017 10:57 AM

Danny Ainge has confirmed that Lonzo Ball will not work out for the Boston Celtics despite the team owning the first overall pick.

With the Los Angeles Lakers selecting second overall, Ball hopes to be picked by his hometown team.

"We don't deal with [Ball's camp] all that much," said Ainge. "They didn't show up at the combine, which is very common -- many of the top 10 or 15 players don't show up for the [NBA's] combine. ... We just tried to get him in for a workout and they politely said no."

The Celtics are widely expected to select Markelle Fultz with the first overall pick if they keep it.

Toucher and Rich

Tags: Lonzo Ball, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Workouts

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Lakers Confident Of Signing Paul George In 2018

May 18, 2017 1:10 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers believe they will be in position to sign Paul George during the summer of 2018.

The Lakers have been advised not to give up assets to trade for George ahead of his free agency.

The Indiana Pacers considered trading away George at the deadline. George is believed to prefer to sign with the Lakers if the Pacers do not improve their status as contenders.

Adrian Wojnarowski/The Vertical

Tags: Paul George, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Lakers Plan On Waiting Until 2018 To Pursue Major Free Agents

May 18, 2017 4:15 AM

The Los Angeles Lakers have a number of options available to them now that they secured the second overall pick in the draft.

Magic Johnson said he'll take a patient approach in pursuing free agents, preferring the 2018 class that will likely feature Paul George.

“I don't think we're going to be a major player this year; I’m looking forward to next summer,” Johnson said.

Last offseason, the Lakers signed Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng to deals that already have become problematic.

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Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Lonzo Ball May Only Work Out For Lakers

May 17, 2017 3:14 AM

Lonzo Ball may decide to work out for only the Los Angeles Lakers during the lead up to the draft.

"We will make that decision closer to June," the source said.

The source added that it's been "clear from the start our desired destination is Los Angeles."

The Lakers own the No. 2 overall pick with the Boston Celtics winning the first overall selection. The Celtics are expected to select Markelle Fultz if they keep the pick.

The Philadelphia 76ers select third overall, which is considered the lowest spot Ball would be drafted.

The Lakers also have interest in Fultz, De'Aaron Fox, Josh Jackson and Jayson Tatum.

"The harder call may be the first one," he said. "Sometimes having the second pick is better than the first. We're sitting in a fantastic position.

"I think there are four, five guys that are well suited to be [drafted] at the top."

Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Tags: Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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LaVar Ball Not Impacting Lakers, Suns' Draft Evaluation Of Lonzo Ball

May 14, 2017 4:09 AM

Magic Johnson said there is no impact on the public personality of LaVar Ball on whether the Los Angeles Lakers target Lonzo Ball.

"No effect at all," Johnson told ESPN at the NBA combine. "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 ability and what he can do not only on the basketball court but also what he can do for your team. How he can enhance and make your team better."

The Lakers need to be in the top-3 to keep their pick.

Lonzo Ball is projected by most NBA executives to be selected in the top three of the June 22 draft.

"If we're fortunate to keep our pick, wherever that is, then you take a look at him," Johnson said. "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."

Ryan McDonough agreed with Johnson on LaVar Ball not having an impact.

"Not really, no," McDonough said. "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 we try to weigh in all the factors, certainly having a parent who's very involved and cares a lot, we don't view that as a bad thing. It's a little bit different than certain situations, but it's certainly that we would not disqualify Lonzo for [his father], or really factor heavily in our decision."

Jeff Goodman/ESPN

Tags: Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Markelle Fultz Interviewing With Celtics, Lakers, 76ers, Kings, Knicks

Jeff Goodman/ESPN

Lakers Part Ways With Scout Chaz Osborne

Mark Medina/Los Angeles Daily News

Lakers Director Of Basketball Analytics Yuju Lee Leaves Franchise

Baxter Holmes/ESPN

Lakers 'Enamored' By Lonzo Ball

Chad Ford/ESPN

Luol Deng Undergoes Surgery To Repair Torn Right Pectoral

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