Lonzo Ball on where he’d like to play

When the 2017 NBA Draft gets underway on June 22nd, you’re not going to have to wait long to hear commissioner Adam Silver call Lonzo Ball’s name.

The sure-fire lottery pick out of UCLA talked with The Vertical recently about where he’d like to play as a professional.

“The Lakers are in L.A., and they’re close to home,” Ball told The Vertical. “This is where all my family is. Hopefully, they have a nice pick and they have a chance to get me. I want this to be realistic. Just being very family-oriented, to play in front of them would mean a lot to me. The Lakers are a young team and they have a lot of young talent.”

Brooklyn has the best odds of acquiring the number one overall pick at next month’s NBA draft lottery. If they desire, Boston has the right to swap picks with the Nets thanks to a trade involving Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in 2013. The Phoenix Suns have the second best odds followed by the Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Orlando Magic.

So of course with so many different possibilities that could play out, Ball is saying all the right things. Even if others in his family can’t be as responsible with their words.

“I’ll play for anyone, all 30 teams. I want the challenge of helping turn around any team in the league. Just making it to the NBA, that’s my goal.”

We’re less than two months from the draft. If Ball is on the board when it comes time for the Suns to pick do you want general manager Ryan McDonough picking up the 19-year-old?