Lakers, Suns say LaVar Ball won't impact draft decisions

LaVar Ball's omnipresence around his son Lonzo's basketball career might appear to be unnerving for NBA front offices, but the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns say they aren't concerned.

Both Lakers president Magic Johnson and Phoenix Suns GM Ryan Donough told ESPN's Jeff Goodman that the senior Ball will have no impact on their draft decisions.

"We evaluate the player first and foremost," McDonough said Thursday at the NBA draft combine, which Ball isn't attending. "It seems like LaVar has been extremely involved in Lonzo's career and obviously he's a polarizing guy. But on the court, in terms of development, it seems like it's helped Lonzo."

While Lonzo's top-three status as a draft prospect is enough to allay any concerns about his publicity-seeking father, LaVar is also somebody NBA teams may have to become familiar with. His other sons, LiAngelo and LaMelo - the latter of whom is the No. 3-ranked player in the nation for the class of 2019 - could end up in the league as well.

While there is much-publicized mutual interest between Lonzo and the Lakers, the purple and gold still run a 53 percent chance of losing their pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in Tuesday's draft lottery. The Suns, meanwhile, compiled the second-worst record in the NBA this season and have a 56 percent chance of landing a selection in the top two.