Lonzo Ball will consider working out with other lottery teams, but not the Celtics

Now that the Lakers are looking into scheduling workouts with two more draft prospects despite Lonzo Ball’s projected availability at Los Angeles’ No. 2 pick, the former UCLA standout guard is considering scheduling workouts with other lottery teams, according to ESPN.com’s Ramona Shelburne. Ball will not work out for the Boston Celtics, however, who hold the top pick in the 2017 NBA draft.

Ball is set to work out for the Lakers a second time on Friday, according to ESPN, and he is hoping his hometown franchise lets him know if he’s “separated himself” from other rookies in his class. If Los Angeles isn’t sold on the projected top-two pick after he shows his training regimen and work ethic, he will consider working out for other teams picking below the Lakers.

The Lakers will also meet Ball’s family, including his outspoken father, LaVar Ball, on Friday.

Ball declared for the NBA draft after an impressive freshman season with the UCLA Bruins. He averaged 14 points and 7.6 rebounds, shooting 41.2 percent from three to lead the Bruins to a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Ball is heralded as a top prospect in the draft because of his incredible passing instincts and court vision, as well as his ball-handling ability and hitched, but efficient three-point stroke.

Ball’s camp made it clear the Los Angeles native wanted to play for his hometown team. LaVar Ball went so far as to say his son would only play for the Lakers. But Los Angeles had concerns about Ball’s conditioning after his first workout. Those concerns prompted the Lakers to work out Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox and look into scheduling a workout with Duke forward Jayson Tatum, as well.

3. Philadelphia (from Sacramento)
4. Phoenix
5. Sacramento (from Philadelphia)
6. Orlando
7. Minnesota
8. New York
9. Dallas
10. Sacramento (via New Orleans)

If Ball’s dream destination is No. 2, at least working out for No. 1 could help his cause. Maybe the rookie guard thinks he’d blow Boston out of its seat, prompting the Celtics to select him over Washington’s Markelle Fultz with the top pick they acquired through a trade with Brooklyn.

But if the Lakers legitimately aren’t interested in selecting Ball with the second pick, there is no reason to hold out from a young, promising Celtics team that could have a hole to fill at point guard in the future.

Fultz was been pegged the unanimous No. 1 pick midway through the college basketball season, and it’s his explosive athleticism on both ends combined with his knock-down perimeter shooting that’s landed him atop this draft class. But Ball is an incredible talent, as well.

The Lakers could go a multitude of directions with their second overall pick. They could select Jayson Tatum and put him alongside Brandon Ingram to create one of the more promising 3-4 tandems available in the league. That, though, would create a front-court logjam with Julius Randle and Larry Nance Jr. on tab, as well as a veteran Luol Deng on an $18-million-a-year deal that expires in 2020.

If they’re really not interested, the Lakers could trade down in the draft — to Phoenix at No. 4, plus their 2018 pick, or to Sacramento, who hold picks five and 10 and would like to move up. Both of those scenarios were reported by ESPN’s Chad Ford.

But Ball is an all-world talent, and this could be the Lakers’ last chance to hit a home run in the draft. This year’s class is touted as one of the best in recent memory, and Ball is at the cream of the crop.

If Los Angeles selects Ball, it could pair him with D’Angelo Russell in the backcourt or trade Russell in a package for a proven veteran. The Lakers could reinvigorate a franchise that’s been dry for the past three seasons by injecting themselves with hometown talent bearing insane amounts of local hype.

That’s why I give the Lakers about a 65 percent chance at drafting Ball. It seems there’s a visible talent gap between picks one and two and picks three through 13. And if anything else, Los Angeles should pick the best available talent at No. 2.

If Fultz is gone, that pick is Lonzo Ball.