Since the Los Angeles Lakers landed the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the organization has been heavily linked to former UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball.

Those talks have gone a bit off the track over the last few weeks after a plausible workout that drew concerns to his conditioning. However, it now appears that he is headed toward possibly still becoming the selection by the Lakers as Shams Charania of The Vertical is reporting that Ball's agent is in talks with the team.

It may have been the plan all along for the Lakers to give off the perception that they are not as interested in Ball after the team was working out other top prospects such as Washington point guard Markelle Fultz, Kansas swingman Josh Jackson, and Kentucky point guard De'Aaron Fox.

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This latest development also may indicate that Los Angeles is looking to keep their second overall pick after rumors that the team was looking to trade out or down from the spot.

It also fuels speculation that the Lakers are looking to keep their young core together and make a blockbuster deal for All-Star forward Paul George despite the fact that he told the Indiana Pacers that he would test the free-agent market next summer. Los Angeles doesn't appear it wants to move a bulk of its young core to add George now if the 27-year-old does indeed want to join the team in free agency next summer.

Ultimately, it looks like Ball is going to be one of the building blocks for the team's future to help lure in star players like George.

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