Lakers Rumors: Latest on Lonzo Ball, Draft Plans and More

Few teams face as much pressure and scrutiny as the Los Angeles Lakers this summer. 

This isn't just a case of the Lakers being the Lakers, either. The folks in charge of the historic franchise brought on Magic Johnson to help run the show, but this doesn't feel anything like previous years. 

No, this is a case of the Lakers squatting knee deep in a rebuild with quality core pieces such as D'Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle. It's the team getting ready to add another top-two pick while facing tough decisions on guys like Lonzo Ball. It's the Lakers finally having the chance to reattain the status as a serious possible destination for the league's best free agents.

Lots of hype, little hyperbole. Heading into one of the most critical summers in a long time, here's a look at the latest rumblings surrounding the Lakers.

Another Date With Lonzo

Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press

The Lakers can't seem to get enough of Ball.

Los Angeles already had one meet with the polarizing point guard, with reports emerging the reaction to the meet was a little more mixed than expected.

It makes sense, then, that the Lakers want another look at a guy most have expected the franchise to select for more than a year, according to The Vertical's Shams Charania:

The initial reaction to Ball's first meeting with the Lakers went about as expected. According to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News, some who saw the workout thought he was "out of shape." 

"Many qualities have made the Lakers impressed with Ball, including his leadership potential, passing and scoring. They are not impressed, however, with his level of conditioning," Medina wrote, via the Orange County Register.

Still, the Lakers know the drill with Ball. They aren't potentially drafting him for his athleticism like a Markelle Fultz or De'Aaron Fox. He's so-so in this area, but he is one of the best sheer passers to enter the draft in years.

It's notable the Lakers want to see Ball's family as well. The first workout didn't feature his controversial father, LaVar. Though it might sound silly to some, this workout is perhaps the most important of all for Ball in more ways than, which starts to make sense when recalling he's a California kid who has always had his eye on the Lakers.

Who Threw the Promise at Josh Jackson?

Orlin Wagner/Associated Press

Are the Lakers about to swerve the globe and take a forward?

If they do, it's about a 99-percent chance it's Kansas' Josh Jackson, who is easily the best two-way player in the draft.

Jackson has had some odd news around him lately. He outright canceled a workout with the Boston Celtics, the team clutching the first pick in the draft, according to ESPN's Jeff Goodman.

This sounds like something a prospect who understands he won't be the first pick would do. But based on a note by John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 Phoenix, there could be something else at play here:

An alleged promise by a top-three team and a canceled Boston workout might just point to the Lakers. Sure, the Philadelphia 76ers might end up being the squad to make it happen because they like the idea of pairing him with Ben Simmons.

But the Lakers wouldn't be wrong to have an interest in a 6'8", 202-pound forward who can create his own shots, give teams fits in transition and play quality defense on the other end of the court.

Making Jackson the pick would open up some interesting possibilities. He could still take the floor with Ingram and Randle, which would perhaps keep Russell at the 1 for the time being. This leaves free agency as an avenue for the Lakers to eventually seek a superstar.

Then again, this stretch right before the draft classifies as smokescreen season for good reason. At the least, it's important observers keep in mind the fact the Lakers might want to take a shot on a position outside of point guard when they walk to the podium.

LeBron James?

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Let's get weird. 

Lakers fans aren't strangers to finding their favorite team linked to any and all big names in free agency, even if the franchise has served as nothing more than a stepping stone or been outright ignored as of late.

So no, it's not much of a surprise to hear LeBron James linked to the Lakers by reports.

James doesn't even hit the market until 2018, but it's analysis time about his future after his Cleveland Cavaliers got whipped in the Finals by the Golden State Warriors.

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor brought up the possibility: "Multiple league sources I've spoken to think the Lakers or Clippers are viable destinations for King James."

The writeup mentions LeBron's owning a house near the Staples Center as a reason for the potential interest, though someone like LeBron owning a house in a market like Los Angeles is less surprising than a rumor linking him to the Lakers in the first place. 

Alas, this continues to move out of the realm of odd possibility the more major media names pick up the story. The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski is the latest (h/t Pro Basketball Talk's Dan Feldman):

"Not only is there no guarantee he's coming back, I'm not sure there's an expectation he's re-signing there. I think they feel, I think within Cleveland and around the league, they feel that he's very much in play to leave again and likely head out West to one of the two L.A. teams. The Lakers could very well be a target."

These reporters also bring up the Los Angeles Clippers, but of the two franchises in the city, the Lakers will have more money and a brighter future if the Clippers don't break up their trio of star players.

It's interesting a player approaching the age of 35 like LeBron would have an interest in joining a young crop of developing players as his career wanes. The Lakers have plenty of obvious prestige, but the young core crafted over the course of a long-term rebuild might not give LeBron the best shot at winning a title compared to his sticking with the Cavaliers or joining other superstars elsewhere.

Then again, there's no telling which other superstars might want to follow James to the Lakers, if not pre-emptively go there on the hopes he does.

The more James-to-the Lakers gains traction, the more the league starts to hold its breath and make moves influenced by the idea. For the Lakers, the key might be to avoid such an approach and stick to the current pace of the rebuild.

LeBron joins if LeBron joins. Until then, the Lakes have a clear blueprint in front of them.

All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.