Los Angeles Lakers: Predicting the career outcomes of 2017 draft picks

No. 2 — Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA

And so it begins…

The Lonzo Ball era has officially tipped off in Los Angeles. While it was the necessary move for the Lakers, I will remain skeptical about the selection until Ball proves me wrong. For Magic’s sake, I hope that happens sooner rather than later.

Ball has the makings of a tremendous facilitator who can elevate the rest of the Lakers lineup. He’s outstanding with the ball in his hands, possessing passing skills and understanding of the game beyond his years. With that being said, there are some hurdles he’ll need to clear before we can call him a rising star in the NBA.

First off, Ball needs to prove he can be his own man. I know there’s been a lot of criticism surrounding the impact his father’s arrogance has on him, and I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. That’s why I’m eager to see if he can become a humble-yet-confident leader for this Lakers team.

In the end, I’m predicting he develops into a top-10 point guard in the NBA. Will he be a superstar? Probably not. Realistically, though, Los Angeles doesn’t need him to be. With plans to sign Paul George and LeBron James next offseason, Ball just needs to be a pass-first playmaker who puts his teammates in position to succeed.

He’ll make a couple of All-Star games and lead the league in assists at least once before all is said and done. I don’t think he’ll ever be the superstar Ball and his father expect him to be, though.