Lakers News: Latest on Lonzo Ball's WWE Raw Appearance, Brandon Ingram and More
While much of the attention surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers has to do with the persistent rumors regarding Indiana Pacers swingman Paul George and his potential acquisition by the team (whether by trade or next year's free agency), there is still plenty going on with the players already attached to the purple and gold.
Here's a roundup of some of the latest Lakers news.
Lonzo Ball Makes WWE Raw Appearance at Staples Center
There's hardly been a day in this NBA offseason without Lonzo Ball finding his name in the headlines, whether through draft buildup, his father's outlandish comments or his preparations for a rookie campaign as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft.
Monday was no different in that Ball made the headlines, but it was unique in that he did so by appearing on WWE's Raw Monday night, with his father LaVar and younger brother LaMelo also part of the show.
LaVar and LaMelo first walked out to the Staples Center crowd, only to be greeted by a cascade of boos (LaVar would make an all-too-easy heel if he wanted to make pro wrestling a more permanent gig).
They entered a ring complete with Big Baller Brand mannequins, then introduced Lonzo, who appeared to get a more favorable reaction from Los Angeles crowd. The Los Angeles Times' Houston Mitchell said he came out to cheers, but Deadspin's Dan McQuade apparently heard more boos.
You can be the judge by checking out the video below (Lonzo makes his way out around the 34-second mark):
The segment with wrestler The Miz was wacky and controversial for multiple reasons, but it mostly focused on the antics of LaVar. Here's another taste of the appearance, per WWE:
It was a lively atmosphere, if more than a bit bizarre, but it will certainly pale in comparison to the circus and intensity surrounding the highly touted point guard when he enters the Staples Center for his first actual game as a Laker.
Brandon Ingram Earns Rookie Accolades
Brandon Ingram, tabbed as one of the Lakers' building blocks of the future, was named to the NBA All-Rookie second team on Monday, per Lakers.com. Ingram, the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NBA draft, averaged 9.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the season, but his basic counting stats and minutes played increased as the season went along.
Two players drafted later than Ingram in 2016 beat him out to first-team honors: Milwaukee's Malcolm Brogdon (No. 36) and Sacramento's Buddy Hield (No. 6).
Of course, Ingram has as much upside as any of the players who made the two NBA All-Rookie teams, save for perhaps Philadelphia's Joel Embiid (and even he has longstanding injury issues). At 19 years old, Ingram is the youngest of the 10 players earning such honors, is a superb athlete with a great wingspan that helps him at both ends of the floor and has the confidence of his franchise.
According to Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Indiana Pacers wanted Ingram as part of a trade package for George but the team wasn't having any of it: "The Pacers did talk to the Los Angeles Lakers about a package starting with Brandon Ingram, but the 19-year-old forward is exactly the kind of athletic player Magic Johnson wants on his team."
For what it's worth, it's not just the Lakers brass excited about Ingram's future. Ball is apparently eager to play with him, per Lakers Nation's Serena Winters:
Lakers fans will of course be hoping for Ingram to make big strides this season, as these rookie honors do not necessarily guarantee future stardom. D'Angelo Russell won second-team honors last year and is now in Brooklyn, and Jordan Clarkson garnered first-team honors for 2014-15 but his future role with the Lakers is unsettled but leaning toward sixth-man status.
Ivica Zubac Wants Hook Shot Help From 'Sky Hook' Master
With the Lakers still seemingly a year off from adding veteran star talent to their team, the youth contingent will have to carry the team through next season, with the young players adding to their repertoires and proving they belong on the franchise when it comes time for the team to make a big play to get back to relevancy and title contention.
Ivica Zubac figures to make his case this coming season after a strong finish in his rookie campaign. According to the Orange County Register's Mark Medina, he wants to work with Laker legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on his hook shot.
"I hope after summer league I get the chance to work out with Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar)," Zubac said, per Medina. The Lakers' summer league begins July 7 and will wrap in the middle of that month.
According to SilverScreenAndRoll.com's Harrison Faigen, Zubac already showed a deft touch with the hook shot in his inaugural campaign:
"Zubac already did use it a fair amount last season. The precocious rookie second-rounder took 238 shots last season, and 48 of them were hook shots, according to NBA.com. The hook shot was Zubac's third-most utilized shot behind jump shots and layups, and perhaps most encouragingly, he shot 50 percent on those 48 attempts."
The desire to improve on a shot that is already proven at least adequate bodes well for the young Laker.
The 20-year-old center found himself with more opportunities as the season wore on as it became clear the cellar was the best place for the Lakers to protect their draft stock. In March, Zubac even started 10 games and played 12, averaging 11.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per contest, per Basketball Reference.
Zubac will almost assuredly take a back seat to the recently acquired Brook Lopez in the coming season, but the 29-year-old center has all the makings of a rental with one year on his contract and the Lakers gearing up for a potentially franchise-altering free-agency period in 2018.
If Zubac can perfect a hook shot and add more to his game in other areas, he has a good chance of becoming a key part of the Purple and Gold.
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