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The Los Angeles Lakers plan on exploring all of their options with their picks in the upcoming NBA draft, including the possibility of drafting another Ball brother.
According to Lithuanian basketball journalist Donatas Urbonas, a Lakers scout was seen in Lituania watching a Lithuanian Baskebtall League game between BC Nevezis and Prienu Vytautas, the team Lonzo Ball’s two younger brothers, LiAngelo and LaMelo, play for.
Los Angeles Lakers scout was in the stands watching Nevezis-Vytautas game in Kedainiai. NBA Draft prospects LiAngelo Ball and Tadas Sedekerskis performed well. Gelo contributed to Vytautas W 96:79 with 12pts (3/3 threes) in 18 mins. Sedekerskis had season highs in pts 17 & EFF 23
— Donatas Urbonas (@Urbodo) April 12, 2018
Per Urbonas, LaMelo did not play because of an issue with his back and because he “isn’t in coach plans for the remainder of the season” with the possibility of Vytautas getting relegated to the second division looming. LaMelo won’t be eligible for the NBA draft until 2020 and is expected to play professionally in Lithuania until then.
LiAngelo, on the other hand, declared for the 2018 NBA draft in March, but isn’t likely to get selected after taking an unorthodox path to the draft led by his ambitious father LaVar.
The Lakers have two picks in the upcoming draft: the No. 25 pick (via Cleveland) and the No. 44 pick (via Denver). When the Lakers are on the clock for both picks, there will surely be better options than LiAngelo Ball, who wasn’t a highly touted prospect even before he left UCLA. However, he could get a Summer League invite if he shows he’s a project worth developing.