Colangelo: LaVar Ball would make drafting Lonzo Ball ‘challenging'

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Lonzo Ball is expected to work out for the Philadelphia 76ers, though Ball's father, LaVar, has pointedly made it clear the UCLA guard wants to play for his hometown Lakers, who own the No. 2 pick in the June 22 draft. The Sixers pick third.

Would the brashness - some would say loud mouth - of LaVar Ball lead an NBA team to shy away from picking Lonzo?

Veteran NBA executive Jerry Colangelo wouldn't mention LaVar by name, but called the situation challenging in an interview with a Philadelphia radio station.

"I think Ball is a terrific prospect and could have an outstanding NBA future,” Colangelo told the “Carlin and Reese” radio show on Philly’s 94 WIP, via CSNPhilly.com. “I think it’s going to be challenging with the people around him, without being specific.”

Colangelo, a Sixers special assistant, and father of Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo, has a lengthy basketball resume that spans nearly 50 years as former owner of the Phoenix Suns and director of USA Basketball. In the end, he said, Lonzo's talent outweighs the potential headache of LaVar.  

"I don't think teams should bypass the player because they have those concerns," Colangelo told WIP "At the end of the day, what wins in this league is talent, and this is a very talented young man."

The Celtics, of course, have the No. 1 pick, and most think they'll choose Washington guard Markelle Fultz. C's president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Ball declined to workout for them. 


 

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