In their first offseason together, President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka struck gold in the 2017 NBA Draft by selecting Lonzo Ball (No. 2), Kyle Kuzma (No. 27), Josh Hart (No. 30), and Thomas Bryant (No. 42). With their first three draft picks being key contributors for head coach Luke Walton during the 2017-18 NBA season, there is great optimism moving forward.
As Ball showed flashes of his potential and Kuzma became the steal of the draft, Johnson shared at the team's exit interviews that both prospects will not play at this year's NBA Summer League in Las Vegas according to Ryan Ward of ClutchPoints:
Magic Johnson says Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma won't be playing in the Summer League #Lakers
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) April 13, 2018
Considering the circumstances and how the Lakers have handled injuries, this is not a surprising move for the storied franchise. Ball missed 30 games due to injuries and this will allow him to fully recover while developing new skills. As for Kuzma, he showed what he is capable of and does not need to risk getting injured in exhibition games.
However, players like Hart and Bryant are expected to play in Summer League. As Hart played major minutes down the stretch and Thomas played in the G League, it will give them opportunities to further develop. In addition, the Lakers will have the No. 25 and 47 picks in the 2018 NBA Draft — if Los Angeles ultimately keeps them.
After winning 30 games for the first time since the 2012-13 season, the Lakers figure to be an attractive free agent destination once again. With a young and competitive core, Johnson and company are hoping to sign LeBron James and Paul George after freeing up cap space for two max contract players.
Follow Us
Subscribe