Lakers Rumors: Some Observers of Lonzo Ball's Workout Felt He Was out of Shape

When Lonzo Ball worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers last week, his conditioning left a little to be desired, according to some who were in attendance.

Mark Medina of the OC Register reported some felt Ball came into the workout out of shape. He did, however, note that the team is being cautious about overreacting to how players perform in individual workouts.

Ball has been considered the prohibitive favorite to be the Lakers' pick at No. 2 throughout the draft process. Most have pegged Washington's Markelle Fultz as the best player in this class, with Ball or Kansas' Josh Jackson in the second spot. Kentucky's De'Aaron Fox, another point guard, has been moving up some boards, but the fit between Ball and the Lakers is natural.

Ball grew up a Lakers fan in Southern California before playing at UCLA. His father, the ever-boisterous LaVar Ball, has been shouting from rooftops for months that he wants his son to be a Laker. Lonzo has also been increasingly open about his desire to play for the Lakers, refusing to make himself available for workouts with any other team.

"They need a leader. They need a point guard. I feel like I can fill that void," Ball said, per Medina. "I'm young. They're young. I see they like to run. I love to run. I think I can complement them very well."

The Lakers will be sending an unprotected first-round pick to the Philadelphia 76ers next season and have eyes on big names in 2018 free agency. Ball, or whomever they select at No. 2, will likely be the final young piece to a core that already includes D'Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram, Larry Nance, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson.

If it's Ball, they will likely spend the summer attempting to shop either Russell or Clarkson for another piece heading into next season.