Report: Lakers enamored with Lonzo Ball

Lonzo Ball wants to be with the Los Angeles Lakers, and the love is mutual.

The Lakers are "enamored" with Ball, who will likely be a top-two pick in the upcoming NBA draft, according to ESPN's Chad Ford. The Chino Hills native would restore some much-needed star power to the franchise, Ford notes.

Ball can't decide where he ends up, but he made it clear his preference would be to stay home in a recent appearance on SportsNation.

"I'm a family dude," he explained. "All my family's in L.A., so to be able to play in front of them, you know, I think that would mean more to me."

Ball eventually clarified to Shams Charania of The Vertical that he would be willing to play for any franchise, but the opportunity to learn from Lakers legend Magic Johnson, who serves as team president, appeals to him.

"He was a big point guard, I'm a big point guard," Ball said. "I can learn a lot from Magic, and it would be a blessing for me to be able to take after him each and every day. Magic is probably the best guard to ever play the game. The fact that he also played as a big guard, he can show me things."

Despite all this mutual interest, landing with the Lakers will be no guarantee for Ball. The team would forfeit their pick should it land outside the top three following the draft lottery, and would probably need to pick first or second to have a realistic shot at Ball.

Adding a point guard might also complicate things for a Lakers team already overstocked with ball-handlers. D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, David Nwaba, and even forwards Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle all covet the rock.