When the Los Angeles Lakers took Lonzo Ball with the No. 2 decide within the 2017 NBA Draft, there was initially a variety of optimism round him, and plenty of followers anticipated him to make the roster a number of instances. All-Star group and turn out to be a franchise participant.
However whereas Ball was a strong participant when wholesome, he was by no means capable of keep wholesome for an prolonged time period. He was dealt to the New Orleans Pelicans within the Anthony Davis commerce in 2019, and Lakers followers ultimately realized the group made a mistake in drafting him.
The participant most Lakers followers want the group had chosen at No. 2 as an alternative of Ball is Boston Celtics star ahead Jayson Tatum, who has 5 All-Star nominations and an NBA championship to his credit score. Magic Johnson, who was Los Angeles’ president of basketball operations in 2017, not too long ago mentioned he took Ball over Tatum, not solely as a result of the group had a glut of productive forwards, but in addition as a result of Tatum’s agent did not need Tatum to play for the Lakers.
Jeff Wechsler, the agent in query, mentioned earlier this week that the state of affairs performed out another way (h/t New England Sports activities Community).
“Magic was right in what he mentioned, however the best way it was offered was a little bit completely different,” Wechsler mentioned. “And everybody is aware of the draft begins in June and guys end March Insanity on the finish they usually prepare for months. Nicely, Jayson skilled in LA for months with Drew Hanlen and the Lakers knew he was in LA and by no means known as, and on the finish of June they known as and wished to convey him in for a session coaching. However by then everybody knew they had been taking Lonzo Ball.
The agent added that Lakers government Rob Pelinka nonetheless wished to work on Tatum, so he requested Pelinka to get him on the cellphone with Johnson, who mentioned the group was forward-heavy however wished to take a look at each prospect.
Wechsler added: “(I instructed Johnson), ‘Nicely, in case you do not take my man, he is been there all summer season, he is in St. Louis now, he is coaching for different groups. I am not going to take him throughout the nation for a coaching session in case you will not take him. And that is the way it occurred.
Even when the Lakers had taken Tatum, he nonetheless would have been despatched to New Orleans to be able to purchase Davis. However in addition they had the choice of taking De’Aaron Fox to resolve their level guard points. Fox has turn out to be a borderline celebrity over the previous couple of years with the Sacramento Kings, to not point out a harmful crunch time participant, and he has constantly been among the many league’s greatest scorers throughout that span.
Usually talking, Los Angeles has drafted properly over the previous decade. However in 2017, the corporate missed the ball, no pun meant, on this space.
This text was initially revealed on LeBron Wire: Jayson Tatum’s Agent Explains Why Magic Johnson Did not Recruit Tatum
