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Magic Johnson: LaVar Ball won’t affect whether Lakers draft Lonzo Ball

Lonzo Ball, LaVar Ball

FILE - In this Saturday, March 4, 2017, file photo, UCLA guard Lonzo Ball, right, walks away after hugging his father, LaVar, following the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Washington State in Los Angeles. The UCLA freshman point guard has been one of college basketball’s best players and could be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. He’s kept up his high-level of play over the past month as his father, LaVar, has become more vocal in the media. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

AP

The consensus is LaVar Ball’s provocative statements, expensive shoes and persistent meddling won’t hurt Lonzo Ball’s draft stock.

But the consensus matters far less than what teams in position to pick the UCLA point guard will do.

One of those teams: The Lakers, who hold the third-best odds of have their numbers drawn in the lottery. And their new president says he’s not concerned about the elder Ball.

Jeff Goodman of ESPN:

Magic Johnson told me that Lavar Ball will not have any impact whatsoever on whether he would select Lonzo.

This doesn’t exactly confirm the rumor that the Lakers are “enamored” with him, but this should be welcome news for Lonzo, who said he’d prefer the Lakers draft him.