NBA Execs Expect Lakers to Pick Lonzo Ball in 2017 NBA Draft

Nothing is certain in the NBA draft, but it is continuing to look more and more like the Los Angeles Lakers will select Lonzo Ball with the No. 2 overall pick.

Kevin Smith of Real GM reported Monday that "every NBA front office person" he spoke to expects Ball to end up in Los Angeles.

The Boston Celtics have the No. 1 pick in the draft and have been taking a long look at Washington's Markelle Fultz, per Jeff Goodman of ESPN.

Ball's father, LaVar, has been orchestrating a move to keep the Los Angeles native at home for some time.

"That's all we working out for is the Lakers," LaVar Ball told Ryan Ward of Lakers Nation in May. "Just the Lakers. There's nobody else that we need to workout for."

Celtics general manager Danny Ainge later confirmed the player's camp declined an invitation to workout.

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported Ball is expected to workout with the Lakers on June 7, although there remains a possibility he also visits the Philadelphia 76ers, who hold the No. 3 pick.

LaVar Ball's outspoken attitude has led to speculation about a possible slide down the board, but few believe it would be too great of a fall.

"I don't think he falls past 2," an Eastern Conference executive told Marc Berman of the New York Post. "But it's a concern in the back of everyone's mind."

The NBA draft is set for June 22.