Los Angeles Lakers: Power ranking team’s top 5 players right now

1. Lonzo Ball, PG

Is there any reason to not have Lonzo Ball at No. 1 right now? I didn’t think so.

The new face of the franchise put on a show during Summer League, earning MVP honors and leading his squad all the way to the championship game. He flashed superstar potential, using his transcendent passing abilities and clutch play to come up big time and time again.

There will obviously be a ton of expectations heaped on Ball’s shoulders during his rookie season. Based on what we saw during Summer League, though, I’m sure he’s more than up to the task. The Lakers will be looking for him to take the reins and drive this team in a better direction in 2017-18, and I believe he’s up to the task.

Realistically, until he proves he’s incapable of doing so, Ball will be counted on to be the star of the show in Los Angeles. Sure, he’s got plenty of capable teammates who can bear some of the burden. Still, Magic didn’t make him the No. 2 pick and confirm him as the franchise’s future without some lofty goals already in mind.

Ball is going to have to prove he can be the go-to guy this season. Even if the plan is to bring two superstars to Los Angeles next year, doing so will be much easier if they know they have an elite facilitator to feed them the rock.

Next: Ranking Magic Johnson's top offseason moves

Training camp hasn’t even started yet, and all of the pressure is on Ball to carry this team. Luckily for him, his arrow is pointing in an unmistakably upward direction. Hence, his position atop the Lakers player power rankings in mid-August.