Los Angeles Lakers: 3 latest rumors on free agency targets, draft plans

LiAngelo Ball isn’t a part of Lakers’ plans

Okay, did anyone really think that was the case?

The Lakers worked out LiAngelo Ball this past Tuesday, although it’s still unclear what the true reason was. By nearly all accounts, he isn’t an NBA-caliber talent. I would say it was to appease LaVar Ball, LiAngelo and Lonzo’s egotistical father, but the Lakers aren’t that dumb, right?

So what gives? We may never know. What we do know is that the Lakers don’t have any real interest in bringing the middle Ball brother aboard. Here’s what USA TODAY Sports’ Sam Amick had to say on the matter:

"“While the Los Angeles Lakers held a workout Tuesday that included the younger brother of starting point guard Lonzo Ball, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports team officials have no interest in drafting or signing the 19-year-old – for the NBA team or even the G League team, the South Bay Lakers.”"

Again, why they brought him in in the first place is a mystery to me. However, if Amick is to be believed, it seems the Lakers have the right idea about LiAngelo. He’s a subpar talent who probably didn’t even deserve a workout with an NBA team. Los Angeles’ time definitely could have been better spent elsewhere.

Put simply, don’t get your hopes up about seeing a Ball-Ball backcourt in 2018-19. The Lakers aren’t drafting him, signing him or giving in to his father’s idle threats. That’s for the best.